Retired Garda superintendent faces 12 charges of corruption and facilitating criminal organisation

Another garda and detective also appear in court following probe by National Bureau of Investigation

John Murphy faces allegations covering five years. File picture: Dan Linehan

A retired Garda superintendent is to stand trial accused of facilitating a crime gang, perverting the course of justice, and corruption, while two other serving officers face 171 connected charges.

John Murphy, aged 65, and Garda Manus Keane, facing a single criminal allegation, and Detective Aidan Stratford, who has 170 charges, were arrested on Wednesday following a probe by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI).

They appeared at Dublin District Court on Wednesday, when NBCI Detective Sergeant Síle White and Detective Sergeant Paul Sweeney gave evidence that the Director of Public Prosecutions had issued a direction for trial on indictment at a higher level on their combined 183 charges. 

However, the precise venue was not divulged during the hearing.

A six-week adjournment was sought to prepare the prosecution's books of evidence, which must be served on them before granting a trial order.

The former superintendent stood silently, with his arms folded, during his hearing and did not enter a plea. Detective Sergeant White said Mr Murphy was charged just after 10am, and "made no reply after caution" to his 12 charges.

Mr Murphy and Stratford face allegations covering five years.

It is alleged that they participated in or contributed to activities intended to facilitate serious offences by a criminal organisation, between April 12, 2016, and September 29, 2021, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

They could not apply for bail on this charge, which requires a High Court decision, and were remanded in custody to appear again next Wednesday.

Bribery charges

Mr Murphy faces seven separate bribery charges under the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018.

It is alleged that on various dates between July 2020 and September 2021, Mr Murphy "corruptly" agreed to accept gifts, advantages, or inducements. These were allegedly rewards for performing acts related to his "office, position, or employment".

The ex-senior garda also faced four common law charges for communicating with a serving member of An Garda Síochána in a manner intended to pervert the course of public justice from April 2016 to January 2018.

 Daniel Hanahoe, defending, said his client was reserving his legal aid application.

Single offence

Mr Keane, aged 46, from south Dublin, is charged with a single offence under section 62 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. It states that on November 13, 2014, he, a serving member of An Garda Síochána, disclosed confidential information to Aidan Stratford, pertaining to a different individual.

According to his charge, the information was "obtained in the course of carrying out your duties in your office or employment, knowing that the disclosure of said information was likely to have a harmful effect".

He did not address the court, and there was no objection to his bail on the following conditions: Provide a contact phone number, notify gardaí of any address change, and no contact, directly or indirectly, with any other parties or witnesses in the case.

He met the NBCI officer by arrangement shortly after 8am to be charged. 

Mr Keane has not indicated a plea either.

Both he and Mr Murphy appeared before Judge Brendan O'Reilly during the morning court sitting.

Judge O'Reilly imposed reporting restrictions on his address, set cashless bail at €3,000, and ordered him to appear again on June 12. His defence counsel, Paddy Jackson, instructed by solicitor Paul Molloy, asked that the question of legal aid be reserved so documents could be brought to court on the next date.

Case against Aidan Stratford

Detective Aidan Stratford, 50, from north Dublin, was brought before Judge Michele Finan during the evening court sitting.

His other alleged offences included disclosing confidential information or corruptly accepting a gift, inducement, or reward on February 25, 2020, for performing an act related to his position.

NBCI Detective Sergeant Paul Sweeney told the court that the accused was arrested just after 11am and charged with the 170 offences. The court heard he replied: "I deny the charge."

He did not address the court, sat leafing through his bundle of charges, and spoke only to consult with his solicitor, Damien Coffey.

Mr Coffey confirmed that his client would apply for High Court bail in due course.