A retired superintendent and four serving Gardaí have been acquitted of perverting the course of justice following an eight-week trial at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
The five defendants—former Superintendent Eamon O’Neill, Garda Tom McGlinchey, Garda Colm Geary, Sergeant Michelle Leahy, and Sergeant Anne-Marie Hassett—faced a total of 39 charges. They denied unlawfully interfering in road traffic prosecutions between October 2016 and September 2019, reports RTE.
The prosecution alleged that Mr. O’Neill, while still serving as a superintendent, fielded inquiries from motorists and other Gardaí about pending or potential road traffic cases. He then allegedly passed these on to colleagues, including some of his co-accused, who communicated with each other and others in efforts to have the cases struck out or withdrawn from court.
The alleged offences involved common traffic violations such as speeding, using a mobile phone while driving, driving without insurance, and failing to wear a seatbelt.
RTE reports that after more than six hours of deliberation (totalling six hours and seven minutes), the jury of eight men and four women returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on all 39 counts.
The courtroom erupted in applause and cheers as the final verdict was announced.
Family members and friends of the acquitted individuals gathered outside Court 3, awaiting their exit from the building.
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