Garda detective faces crime gang facilitation, bribery and firearms charges

His court appearance follows charges being levelled against retired Garda superintendent John Murphy and two other Dublin-based serving gardaí

Eoghan Clerkin will appear at Cloverhill District Court on Friday. File picture

A detective garda has been accused of facilitating a "serious offence" by an organised crime gang, as well as bribery and possessing over 100 rounds of ammunition.

Eoghan Clerkin, aged 51, was the fourth man to be charged following a probe by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) and appeared at Dublin District Court on Monday.

NBCI Detective Inspector Mark Watters told Judge Karen Dowling that the accused was arrested shortly before 9am and made no reply when charged with three offences.

On February 19, 2018, while serving as a member of An Garda Síochána, the defendant is alleged to have corruptly attempted to obtain a gift, consideration, or advantage from an individual identified only by initials as an inducement or reward for performing or omitting an act related to his position. It is an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

According to another allegation, under section 27A(1) of the Firearms Act 1964, he unlawfully possessed 33 rifle rounds and 73 rounds of 9mm ammunition at an address in west Dublin.

From January 12, 2018, to June 13, 2019, he is accused of facilitating the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation. He could not apply for bail as this charge, under section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, requires a High Court decision.

Detective Inspector Watters applied for a remand in custody, which was granted. The Director of Public Prosecutions' (DPP) directions in Mr Clerkin's proceedings were not stated.

He remained silent during the hearing and will appear at Cloverhill District Court on Friday. The officer who lives in Dublin has not yet entered a plea.

Other defendants

His court appearance on Monday follows charges being levelled against retired Garda superintendent John Murphy and two other Dublin-based serving gardaí.

Mr Murphy, aged 65, Garda Manus Keane and Detective Aidan Stratford were arrested on Wednesday.

They then appeared at Dublin District Court, where NBCI Detective Sergeant Síle White and Detective Sergeant Paul Sweeney gave evidence.

It emerged that the DPP had issued a direction that the three men face 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 superintendent "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.

Mr Murphy has 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 for performing acts related to his "office, position or employment."

The ex-superintendent 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.

Detective Aidan Stratford, aged 50, from north Dublin, has another 170 charges, including disclosing confidential information or corruptly accepting a gift, inducement, or reward on February 25, 2020.

The court heard that "I deny the charge" was his reply when each allegation was put to him.

Mr Keane, aged 46, 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, disclosed confidential information to Aidan Stratford, pertaining to a different individual.

According to his sole 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".