Latest news with #Osgur
Belfast Telegraph
25-04-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Sallins Train Robbery: Osgur Breathnach, a false confession, the Garda 'Heavy Gang', and convicted by a sleeping judge (Part 2)
He was arrested that morning in 1976, as one of six accused of carrying out the robbery. One week before Christmas of the same year, he and his co-accused were brought into the Special Criminal Court and charged with the crime. It would become one of the most dramatic and longest-running criminal trials in the history of the State. During the trial it was alleged that one of the non-jury Special Criminal Court judges was falling asleep and not hearing evidence, but when this was raised by the defence team, it was ignored. Then the same judge died and it transpired he had been in ill health and on medication. The trial was abandoned and a new trial a few months later focused on the 'confessions' of the men. Osgur would later be convicted of the crime and sentenced to 12 years in Portlaoise prison. The IRA would eventually take responsibility for the infamous heist, leading to a presidential pardon and two convictions being overturned. In the final episode of this two-part Indo Daily documentary special, Kevin Doyle revisits the Sallins Train Robbery, speaking to Osgur Breathnach about the trial of the 'sleeping Judge', living with PTSD, and why he feels a public inquiry is justified for he and his co-accused.
Irish Independent
23-04-2025
- Irish Independent
The Indo Daily: Justice Derailed
He was arrested that morning in 1976, as one of six accused of carrying out the robbery. One week before Christmas of the same year, he and his co-accused were brought into the Special Criminal Court and charged with the crime. It would become one of the most dramatic and longest-running criminal trials in the history of the State. During the trial it was alleged that one of the non-jury Special Criminal Court judges was falling asleep and not hearing evidence, but when this was raised by the defence team, it was ignored. Then the same judge died and it transpired he had been in ill health and on medication. The trial was abandoned and a new trial a few months later focused on the 'confessions' of the men. Osgur would later be convicted of the crime and sentenced to 12 years in Portlaoise prison. The IRA would eventually take responsibility for the infamous heist, leading to a presidential pardon and two convictions being overturned. In the final episode of this two-part Indo Daily documentary special, Kevin Doyle revisits the Sallins Train Robbery, speaking to Osgur Breathnach about the trial of the 'sleeping Judge', living with PTSD, and why he feels a public inquiry is justified for he and his co-accused. The Indo Daily: Justice Derailed | Ep 2– The Sleeping Judge Listen to Episode 1 below:
Irish Independent
22-04-2025
- Irish Independent
Ep 1: Banged up in the Bridewell – The Sallins train robbery scandal
It was one of the most audacious robberies in the history of the Irish state—but today, it is remembered for very different reasons. What followed was one of the longest and most controversial trials in the history of the Irish state—one that would see Osgur's conviction overturned, but not before spending 17 months in Portlaoise prison. The IRA would later claim responsibility for the Sallins robbery, and nearly five decades on, Osgur is still seeking justice for his treatment in the Bridewell Garda station and wrongful conviction. Host; Kevin Doyle. Guest; Osgur Breathnach.
