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

Another garda was charged on Wednesday following a probe by the Garda National Bureau of Investigation (NBCI)

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

A retired garda superintendent is to stand trial accused of facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation, perverting the course of justice and corruption.

John Murphy, aged 65, from Clontarf in Dublin, and a 46-year-old garda, Manus Keane, were charged on Wednesday following a probe by the Garda National Bureau of Investigation (NBCI).

They appeared before Judge Brendan O'Reilly at Dublin District Court on Wednesday, when NBCI Detective Sergeant Síle White gave evidence.

She told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had issued a direction for trial on indictment at a higher level; 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 senior officer stood silently, with his arms folded, during the hearing and did not enter a plea. Detective Sergeant White said Mr Murphy was charged just after 10am at the courthouse and "made no reply after caution" to his 12 charges.

Mr Murphy faces allegations covering five years.

It is alleged that he 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. He could not apply for bail on this charge, which requires a High Court decision, and was remanded in custody to appear again via video-link next Wednesday.

There are 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 specific dates named in that category of charges are: July 23, 2020; May 18, 2021; May 31, 2021; June 25, 2021; July 19, 2021; August 16, 2021; and September 14, 2021.

He 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. These incidents allegedly occurred on: April 28, 2016; April 12, 2017; April 24, 2017 and on an unknown date in January 2018.

Defence solicitor Daniel Hanahoe said his client was reserving his legal aid application.

Manus Keane

The co-accused, Dublin-based Mr Keane, 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 another male pertaining to a different individual. 

According to the 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 involved in the case.

He met the NBCI officer by arrangement at Kilmainham station, where he was arrested and charged shortly after 8am on Wednesday. The officer has not indicated a plea either.

Judge O'Reilly also imposed reporting restrictions on his address. Judge O'Reilly set cashless bail on his case 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.