Former Garda Superintendent secures High Court bail corruption case

Tom Tuite

A retired Garda Superintendent accused of facilitating a criminal organisation to commit serious offences has been granted bail.

Dubliner John Murphy faces charges covering five years amid a multi-defendant corruption probe.

The Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation charged him in April, and he was remanded in custody.

Prosecutions have commenced against four serving members of the force.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that the four men are to face trial on indictment.

On Friday, Murphy appeared via video-link before Judge Alan Mitchell at Dublin District Court.

He noted the prosecution needed more time to prepare books of evidence and acceded to the State's application for a five-week adjournment when the co-defendants are due to appear again.

Defence solicitor Danica Kinane confirmed that her client has now obtained bail in the High Court and would be able to appear in person on the next date.

It is alleged the ex-superintendent 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.

Murphy has seven bribery charges under the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018.

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.

His co-defendants had been granted bail earlier.

Garda Inspector Brian Roberts (51) is accused of unlawfully disclosing confidential information on October 10, 2018.

Garda Eoghan Clerkin (51) faces charges alleging that on February 19, 2018, he attempted to obtain a gift inducement corruptly, under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

According to another firearms charge, he unlawfully possessed 33 rifle rounds and 73 rounds of 9mm ammunition at an address in west Dublin.

Garda Clerkin was further accused of facilitating the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation from January 12, 2018, to June 13th 2019.

Garda Manus Keane, aged 46, is charged that on November 13, 2014, he, a serving member, disclosed confidential information which was likely to have a harmful effect.

Detective Aidan Stratford (50) is accused of contributing to activities intended to facilitate serious offences by a criminal organisation from 2016 to 2021.

He has another 170 charges, including disclosing confidential information or corruptly accepting a gift, inducement, or reward.