Jury deliberating in trial of Limerick engineer accused of corruption involving garda

Man charged with taking money from detective garda for information on his car dealership being raided

The trial is now in its final stages with both prosecution and defence having made closing speeches. Picture: iStock

The jury is deliberating in the trial of a Limerick engineer accused of corruption by giving money to a detective garda for information on his car dealership being raided.

Stephen O'Sullivan, aged 43, is accused of giving or agreeing to give to Detective Garda David Bourke a monetary gain as an inducement to reveal confidential information concerning an investigation being carried out by the Criminal Assets Bureau in relation to Stephen O’Sullivan, trading as Stephen Bawn Motors. 

Mr O'Sullivan, of Farrehy, Broadford, Co Limerick, is a director of the business.

He has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the single count of corruption at Bruree, Co Limerick, on December 22, 2018.

The trial is now in its final stages with both prosecution and defence having made closing speeches.

The court has heard an audio recording from David Bourke’s Berlingo van of Stephen O’Sullivan giving €20,000 to the detective garda.

On Friday, Chief Superintendent Michael McNulty said that in late 2018 and early 2019 he held the rank of inspector and was a senior officer overseeing criminal investigations.

He gave evidence that on January 17, 2019, warrants were sought from Vodafone and Three for phone records relating to Mr O’Sullivan and David Bourke for the seven-week period between December 1, 2018 and January 31, 2019.

CCTV footage was also harvested and the jury has seen a piece of that footage of a Berlingo van on December 22, 2018. 

The court was also told David Bourke was seen purchasing a small cash safe in Argos.

Chief Supt McNulty told Eoin Lawlor, prosecuting, that addresses of Mr Bourke and Mr O’ Sullivan were searched including Bawn Motors car dealership.

Mr Bourke’s locker at Henry Street Garda Station was also searched. 

A small cash safe was found during the search of Mr Bourke’s home. 

Mr Bourke was arrested and prosecuted for corruption, the court was told Chief Supt. 

McNulty said the financial accounts of Mr Bourke and Mr O’ Sullivan were examined and there was no evidence of €20,000 being withdrawn.

Under cross-examination, Mark Lynam, defending, put it to the witness that Mr O’Sullivan did not provide gardaí with the pin number for his phone but there was nothing of evidential value on it.

Chief Supt McNulty also agreed Mr O’Sullivan had “a very serious car accident” and was bedbound for six to eight months. 

He further agreed he was still on crutches when he came for interview.

Mr O’Sullivan was previously an engineer and has now returned to that profession. 

He was never arrested before having only committed minor road traffic offences, the witness agreed.

He also agreed Mr O’Sullivan complied with all bail conditions and was signing on twice a week.

The jury will resume its deliberations on Monday.