MMA fighter Charlie Ward in court charged with corruption offences involving bribes from garda
MMA fighter Charlie Ward is to stand trial accused of corruption offences involving bribes for 'confidential information' from a garda and helping to pervert the course of justice.
The mixed martial artist, 44, of Acragar, Mountmellick and co-accused Noel Carroll, 57, of Ballyfinn Road, Portlaoise, both Co Laois, appeared at Dublin District Court following an investigation by the Garda anti-corruption unit.
Advertisement
Detective Sergeant Paul Dowling and Kieran Kilcoyne said the two men 'made no reply' when charged.
Judge Treasa Kelly noted the Director of Public Prosecutions directed that they face trial on indictment.
She remanded them on bail to appear again on July 25th to be served with books of evidence and sent forward for trial to the Circuit Court.
They have yet to indicate pleas.
Advertisement
Following applications by defence solicitors Michael Kelleher and Oscar Banahan, who provided statements of their clients' means, Judge Kelly granted them legal aid.
The pair face charges contrary to section 5 of the 2018 Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act about requests for information concerning three men.
According to the court documents, on March 2nd 2022, at an unknown location in the state, both men corruptly requested a gift, consideration or advantage on account of a named garda requesting that confidential information relating to another named person be obtained and disclosed.
Mr Ward is accused of the same type of offence on February 28th 2022, about Garda information on a second male.
Advertisement
Another charge states that on the previous day, Mr Ward corruptly offered the same officer an inducement for doing an act in relation to his employment as a member of An Garda Síochána.
Mr Ward is also accused of an offence under section 7 of the Criminal Law Act 1997.
That alleges that between October 15 -17, 2019, both dates inclusive, when another person committed an arrestable offence, namely, perverting the course of justice, that he 'did aid, abet, counsel or procure the commission of this offence'.
It is alleged that on January 26th 2022, at an unknown location, Mr Carroll corruptly requested a gift consideration or advantage on account of the garda seeking confidential information about a search operation at the home of a third named man.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
BBC will not appeal against Adams' defamation case victory
The BBC will not appeal over Gerry Adams' defamation victory against the organisation. Mr Adams, a former president of Sinn Fein, said there needed to be 'substantial reform' of the broadcaster. Mr Adams took the BBC to court over a 2016 episode of its Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, which he said defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson, in which he denies any involvement. Last month, a jury at the High Court in Dublin found in his favour and awarded him 100,000 euros (£84,000) after determining that was the meaning of words included in the programme and article. The BBC, which was found by the jury not to have acted in good faith nor in a fair and reasonable way, was also ordered to pay the former Sinn Fein leader's legal costs. After the decision, the broadcaster's legal team was granted a stay in the payment of the full award as it took time to consider an appeal. However, on Friday, the BBC confirmed it would not pursue an appeal. A spokesperson said: 'We have given careful consideration to the jury's decision. 'We will not be appealing its verdict, bringing this matter to a conclusion. 'We remain committed to public interest journalism and to serving all BBC audiences.' In a statement issued through the Sinn Fein press office on Friday, Mr Adams said: 'The decision not to appeal by the British Broadcasting Corporation has to be followed by a substantial reform of its internal journalistic processes and a recognition that it cannot continue to be a voice for the British state in Ireland. 'It must also become more accountable to the public. 'The Dublin Court found the BBC guilty of libel and rejected its claim that its journalism was fair and reasonable and in the public interest. 'The British Broadcasting Corporation is a public service provider. There is an onus on the BBC to ensure that in the future its ethics and journalism reflect the principles and values of a public broadcast service. 'As I have already said the damages will be donated to good causes.'
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Kneecap's legal team for court battle to include Julian Assange lawyer
Irish rap trio Kneecap have named the legal team which will defend band member Liam O hAnnaidh against a terror charge. Rapper O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, will be represented by a team that includes Gareth Peirce, solicitor for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during his fight against US extradition, and Rosalind Comyn, who has represented Extinction Rebellion protesters in court. The 27-year-old was charged by postal requisition over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year. His legal team also includes Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law, Brenda Campbell KC, Jude Bunting KC and Blinne Ni Ghralaigh KC. Mr Mackin was the solicitor for Sarah Ewart, whose successful legal challenge helped to usher in the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland, while Ms Campbell was the defence barrister in the collapsed case against Seamus Daly, who was accused of murdering people in the IRA bomb attack of 1998 in Omagh. Mr Bunting acted for non-profit company Liberty in the Stansted 15's successful conviction appeal after they broke into Stansted Airport to stop a plane deporting people to Africa, which was a case Ms Ni Ghralaigh also worked on. In an Instagram post the group said: 'The British establishment is conducting a campaign against Kneecap which is to be fought in Westminster Magistrates Court… We are ready for this fight. We are proud to have such a strong legal team with us.' Mr Mackin told the PA news agency: 'It is difficult to comprehend a case of greater international importance in recent years. 'Kneecap has played an unrivalled role in standing up for those without a voice in Gaza. They speak truth to power when others shy away. 'It is a great privilege to be instructed alongside my colleagues to defend the important principle of freedom of expression, in the pending battle before the London Court.' In May, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'. They apologised to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised'. They also said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK. In 2024, the band released an eponymous film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender which is a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and follows the Belfast group on their mission to save their mother tongue through music. Formed in 2017, the group, made up of O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag. O hAnnaidh is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18. His lawyers have been approached for comment.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Husband who stabbed wife to death as she pushed their baby in a pram made threats to 'kill her if she ever left him', court hears
A husband who 'ferociously' stabbed his wife to death in front of their seven-month-old baby vowed to 'kill her if she ever left him', a court has heard. Kulsuma Akter, 27, suffered more than 25 knife injuries during the attack by Habibur Masum, 26, when he confronted her while she pushed the infant in a pram. Masum tracked Ms Akter to a refuge in Bradford, where she had been staying since January 2024 after he held a knife to her throat at their home in Oldham. Today, Ms Akter's sister-in-law said during their marriage Masum had stopped her wearing make-up and checked her phone to see who she was talking to. A statement from Minara Begum read in court explained Ms Akter had to ask permission from her husband before going out. Ms Begum said the couple had married in Bangladesh and moved to the UK in March 2022 so Masum could continue his studies. She said they 'both seemed happy' and Masum appeared 'quite obsessed with' Ms Akter, who started working at Park Cakes in Oldham. Ms Begum added: 'Masum was not too keen on Kulsuma working but she would worry about paying the bills. The scene in Westgate, Bradford on April 7 2024. A murder investigation was launched after Ms Akter was stabbed in Bradford city centre in broad daylight 'I told her she could enhance her beauty even more with the right make-up ... Masum would get jealous if he saw photos and told her not to do make-up any more, so she didn't.' The statement described how arguments between Ms Akter and Masum escalated to 'a more serious level' and she went to stay with her brother and sister-in-law at one point. Ms Begum said: 'He kept massaging her telling he was going to do crazy things because she was with us and not at home, and kept asking her where the kitchen knife was. 'After this happened I told Masum his behaviour was not right and their relationship should not be this way. 'Masum did not like this coming from a woman or me speaking to him this way. He did not like me very much.' Jurors heard Ms Akter returned to Masum, but arguments between them 'continued to get worse'. Ms Begum said during one argument he divorced her under Islamic law by 'saying it out loud three times', but later said she was confused and he had only said it twice. She said things 'got worse after the baby was born' and Ms Akter 'always complained he wasn't helping her with the baby and always expected his food to be prepared after work'. 'She also told me if the baby cried during the night he would get angry and frustrated,' Ms Begum said. Her statement said Masum had made several threats to kill Ms Akter, adding: 'She told me he would tell her if she ever left him he would kill her.' Jurors heard Ms Akter was moved to a refuge after telling police Masum had assaulted her, held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her over a 'completely innocuous' message she received from a male colleague at a factory. Ms Begum said after the incident Ms Akter told her: 'He will be okay once he kills me.' She added: 'Following this assault Kulsuma asked if Masum killed her would I look after (the baby) for her and take care of him.' The court heard Masum tracked Ms Akter to the refuge through her phone location, and she had been due to move but went out walking with a friend on the day she died after Masum's brother told her he was in Spain. Masum also put photos on Facebook claiming he was in Spain. Masum denies murdering Ms Akter but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of a knife. He also denies two charges of assault, one count of making threats to kill and one charge of stalking. Earlier this week, a statement read out at court by a witness described Masum 'overpowering' Ms Akter before 'throwing her down in front of a car'. The witness added: 'The female was still screaming and then the screaming stopped. She wasn't shouting words or a name but was screaming in agony and pain.' 'Within seconds' Masum allegedly 'stood up and walked off' down the road, as he feared it to possibly be 'a male stabbing random people'. 'At that point I wasn't sure if... this was a male stabbing random people so I turned my family round and started walking back to our home address,' he said. 'I kept an eye on the male as I was concerned for my family. I saw him throw what I assumed was the weapon over a fence. 'He then dusted his hands and calmly carried on walking.'
