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Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Jury dismisses allegations Garda 'sorted out' drivers over insurance offences
A serving Garda was today found not guilty by a jury of charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice after allegations he "sorted out" motoring offences for drivers. Garda Tom Flavin was acquitted of a total of 22 counts of allegedly attempting to pervert the course of justice by a jury at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court following an eight-day trial. Today the jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on 17 of the charges. Earlier the jury was directed by the trial judge, Colin Daly, to return not guilty verdicts in respect of five counts against Garda Flavin. The long serving and respected Co Limerick Garda, who had consistently denied all of the charges, was supported in court throughout the trial by a large gathering of family, friends and colleagues. On Thursday, Garda Flavin's barrister, senior counsel Mark Nicholas, instructed by solicitor Dan O'Gorman, urged the jury to acquit the garda of all of the charges, and said there was no evidence of wrongdoing by the accused. Garda Flavin was arrested and charged following an investigation by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) and ultimately accused of knowingly entering false motor insurance details on the Garda Pulse computer records system, in an attempt to frustrate potential prosecutions against persons for driving without insurance. His trial heard that the drivers involved were stopped at routine Garda checkpoints around the country and asked by the garda present to produce their insurance and licence details at a nominated Garda station within ten days of the traffic stop. All of the drivers involved nominated Rathkeale garda station, and, later, when the investigating garda in each of the traffic stops carried out follow up checks of Pulse they were satisfied the details entered indicated that the driver in each case was insured. However, the court heard some of the drivers were actually not insured and had actually been prosecuted in court after pleading guilty to driving without insurance. Mr Nicholas told the jury Mr Flavin was an exemplary garda who had served with dedication in Croom and Rathkeale, Co Limerick, for many years. The defence barrister had urged the jury to acquit and not fall into the trap of speculation, remarking to the jury that there was radically insufficient evidence to support a conviction against Garda Flavin. "He (Mr Flavin) served his community without blemish and without any disciplinary blots - you know that from the evidence. When other Gardai came to give evidence, his superiors, they spoke of him very fondly and well - It wasn't far off gushing and they spoke with knowledge," Mr Nicholas told the jury in his closing speech, Thursday. Mr Nicholas spoke of the 'unique challenges' Gardai face in Rathkeale as opposed to other jurisdictions: 'People who live down here know it has an enormous population, transient, in and out at various times of the year. One policeman said (the population) quadruples and with that comes its own set of problems and own sets of vehicles - UK car registrations, UK insurance, some not insured, some not being entirely truthful." "We know that a certain number of times that people who were pulled up and stopped and asked for their documentation, produced bogus insurance certificates." Mr Nicholas said the charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, is an extraordinarily, serious allegation to make against a serving Garda and that the State had "nothing close" to proving its case. The court heard evidence that persons had provided certain documents at Rathkeale garda station, where Garda Flavin was based at the time, however it was unclear who produced the documents nor was it clear what documents they produced. Fiona Murphy SC, prosecuting, had alleged that the evidence would show that Gda Flavin had "sorted out" the uninsured drivers by inputting data into Pulse to try to frustrate prosecutions against them. However, Ms Murphy had told the jury that the prosecution case was "a circumstantial case" with "no direct evidence". "Instead, the prosecution relies on indirect evidence," Ms Murphy said. Ms Murphy had explained to the jury that a statute of limitation of "six months" generally applied in respect of prosecuting offences of driving without insurance. She had argued that all of the relevant data entries into Pulse "were entered under the ID of Thomas Flavin" and she had alleged that "Tom Flavin knew they (the drivers) were not covered (by insurance) and that he entered the details onto PULSE to ensure they (appeared) covered". "Mr Flavin knew what he was doing, and he did so to ensure those persons were insured (on PULSE) when they were not, in order to ensure there was no prosecution," Ms Murphy had alleged in court. However, after deliberating for three hours and 21 minutes, the jury disagreed and unanimously dismissed all of the allegations that had been made against Gda Flavin, following an expensive and top-level GNBCI (Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation) probe.
The Journal
3 days ago
- The Journal
Limerick garda found not guilty of charges he 'sorted out' motoring offences for drivers
LAST UPDATE | 21 mins ago A SERVING GARDA has been found not guilty by a jury of charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice after allegations he 'sorted out' motoring offences for drivers. Garda Tom Flavin was acquitted of a total of 22 counts of allegedly attempting to pervert the course of justice by a jury at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court following an eight-day trial. Today, the jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on 17 of the charges. Earlier, the jury was directed by the trial judge, Mr Justice Colin Daly, to return not guilty verdicts in respect of five counts against Garda Flavin. The long-serving and respected Co Limerick Garda, who had consistently denied all charges, was supported in court throughout the trial by a large gathering of family friends and colleagues. On Thursday, Garda Flavin's barrister, senior counsel Mark Nicholas, instructed by solicitor Dan O'Gorman, told the jury to acquit the garda of all charges, and said there was no evidence of wrongdoing by the accused. Garda Flavin was arrested and charged following an investigation by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and ultimately accused of knowingly entering false motor insurance details on the Garda Pulse computer records system, in an attempt to frustrate potential prosecutions against persons for driving without insurance. His trial heard that the drivers involved were stopped at routine Garda checkpoints around the country and asked by the garda present to produce their insurance and licence details at a nominated Garda station within ten days of the traffic stop. All the drivers involved nominated Rathkeale garda station, and, later, when the investigating garda in each of the traffic stops carried out follow-up checks of Pulse, they were satisfied the details entered indicated that the driver in each case was insured. However, the court heard some of the drivers were actually not insured and had actually been prosecuted in court after pleading guilty to driving without insurance. Barrister Nicholas told the jury that Garda Flavin was an exemplary officer, who had served with dedication at stations in Croom and Rathkeale, Co Limerick, for many years. The defence barrister had urged the jury to acquit and not fall into the trap of speculation, remarking to the jury that there was radically insufficient evidence to support a conviction against Garda Flavin. '[Garda Flavin] served his community without blemish and without any disciplinary blots – you know that from the evidence,' Nicholas told the jury yesterday. 'When other gardaí came to give evidence, his superiors, they spoke of him very fondly and well. It wasn't far off gushing, and they spoke with knowledge,' he added in his closing speech. Advertisement Mr Nicholas spoke of the 'unique challenges' gardaí face in Rathkeale, as opposed to other jurisdictions. 'People who live down here know it has an enormous population, transient, in and out at various times of the year,' he said. 'One policeman said (the population) quadruples and with that comes its own set of problems and own sets of vehicles – UK car registrations, UK insurance, some not insured, some not being entirely truthful. 'We know that a certain number of times that people who were pulled up and stopped and asked for their documentation, produced bogus insurance certificates.' Nicholas said the charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, is an extraordinarily, serious allegation to make against a serving garda and that the State had 'nothing close' to proving its case. The court heard evidence that persons had provided certain documents at Rathkeale garda station, where Garda Flavin was based at the time, however it was unclear who produced the documents nor was it clear what documents they produced. Fiona Murphy SC, prosecuting, had alleged that the evidence would show that Garda Flavin had 'sorted out' the uninsured drivers by inputting data into Pulse to try to frustrate prosecutions against them. However, Murphy had told the jury that the prosecution case was 'a circumstantial case' with 'no direct evidence'. 'Instead, the prosecution relies on indirect evidence,' she told the court. Murphy had explained to the jury that a statute of limitation of 'six months' generally applied in respect of prosecuting offences of driving without insurance. She had argued that the relevant data entries into Pulse 'were entered under the ID of Thomas Flavin'. She alleged that Garda Flavin knew the drivers were not covered by insurance and that he 'entered the details onto PULSE to ensure they (appeared) covered'. 'Mr Flavin knew what he was doing,' Murphy said. 'And he did so to ensure those persons were insured (on PULSE) when they were not, in order to ensure there was no prosecution.' After deliberating for three hours and 21 minutes, the jury disagreed with the prosecution's case. They unanimously dismissed all the allegations that had been made against Garda Flavin, following an expensive and top-level Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation probe. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. 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Sunday World
23-05-2025
- Sunday World
Man (60s) arrested in connection with Creeslough explosion tragedy
The explosion which killed 10 people ripped through the Applegreen service station and an apartment complex on a busy Friday afternoon on October 7, 2022. A man in his 60s has been arrested this morning by gardaí investigating the explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal, in 2022 in which 10 people lost their lives. The man was arrested by gardaí in the North West of the country and is detained at a garda station in the region for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. 'The investigation into the fatal explosion at a building complex in Creeslough, Co Donegal, is ongoing, co-ordinated from Milford Garda station where an Incident Room is established under the direction of a Garda Senior Investigating Officer,' a garda spokesperson said. Creeslough tragedy. News in 90 Seconds - May 23rd 'The investigation continues to be led by local Gardaí, in Donegal Division supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) and other agencies including the Health & Safety Authority (HSA) & the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). 'This morning, Friday 23rd May 2025 investigating Gardaí have arrested a male aged in his 60's for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997,' the spokesperson said. The explosion which killed 10 people ripped through the Applegreen service station and an apartment complex on a busy Friday afternoon on October 7, 2022. It is believed to have been caused by a gas leak, the cause of which is the subject of criminal investigation. The victims of the tragedy are: Leona Harper (14); James Monaghan (13), and his mother, Catherine O'Donnell, (39); Robert Garwe (50), and his daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe (5); Martin McGill (49); Jessica Gallagher (24); James O'Flaherty (48); Martina Martin (49); and Hugh Kelly (59).
Irish Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man arrested over Creeslough explosion that killed 10 people
Gardaí have arrested a man in connection with an explosion that destroyed a building complex in Creeslough, Co Donegal in 2022, killing 10 people. The man, who is aged in his 60s, was arrested this morning for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. He is being detained at a Garda station in the north west. The arrest comes as an investigation into the fatal explosion continues, led by local gardaí, supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and other agencies including the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). Two teenagers and a young child were among the victims of the Creeslough explosion, which occurred at a filling station and apartment complex on October 7, 2022. Last year, then-Taoiseach Simon Harris described the tragedy as 'one of the darkest days' in the history of the country as he marked the second anniversary of the fatal blast. Those who died in the explosion were Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe, Catherine O'Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan, Jessica Gallagher, Martin McGill, James O'Flaherty, Martina Martin, Hugh Kelly, and 14-year-old Leona Harper. Gardaí previously made an arrest in connection with the incident last November, when a man aged in his 60s was detained for alleged reckless endangerment under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. He was later released without charge. This afternoon, a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána confirmed that another arrest had been made in connection with the investigation. 'The investigation into the fatal explosion at a building complex in Creeslough, County Donegal is ongoing , co-ordinated from Milford Garda station where an Incident Room is established under the direction of a Garda Senior Investigating Officer,' they said. 'The investigation continues to be led by local Gardaí, in Donegal Division supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) and other agencies including the Health & Safety Authority (HSA) & the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). 'This morning, Friday 23rd May 2025 investigating gardaí have arrested 1 male aged in his 60's for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. 'This male is currently detained under the provisions of section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in the North Western Region,' they added.
Irish Examiner
23-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Man, 60s, arrested in connection with Creeslough explosion
Gardaí investigating the Creeslough explosion in Co Donegal have arrested a man aged in his 60s. Gardaí said the man was arrested for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. He is currently being detained under the provisions of section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in the North Western Region. He is the fifth person to be arrested in connection with the explosion at the Applegreen/Nearby service station and store in the Co Donegal town in which 10 people died. In May last year, gardaí arrested a man and a woman, both aged in their 40s, for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. Earlier in the year, two men in their 50s were arrested in connection with the explosion. Like the man and the woman arrested in May, they were later released without charge. A Garda spokesperson said: 'The investigation into the fatal explosion at a building complex in Creeslough, County Donegal is ongoing. 'This morning, investigating gardaí arrested one male aged in his 60s for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. 'This male is currently detained. 'A Garda Spokesperson is not available at this time.' The investigation continues to be led by local gardaí in the Donegal Division, supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) and other agencies including the Health & Safety Authority (HSA) and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Those who died on October 7, 2022, in the explosion, were James O Flaherty, 48, Jessica Gallagher, 24, Martin McGill, 49, Catherine O Donnell, 39, and her son James Monaghan, 13, Hugh Kelly, 59, Martina Martin, 49, Robert Garwe, 50, and his daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe, 5, and Leona Harper, 14.
