AN All-Ireland winning Limerick hurler has been arrested on suspicion of committing perjury arising out of a Garda investigation into the alleged squaring away of road traffic offences.
The man, in his 20s, appeared by appointment at a Garda station in Limerick this morning and is due to appear before Limerick District Court today.
In a statement issued this morning, a Garda spokesman said that the sportsman was charged as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
He was originally questioned by members of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) in March 2021 as part of a probe into alleged corruption in office involving a number of Gardaí.
A retired Garda Superintendent and four serving Gardaí were charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice as part of the same GNBCI probe. They were arrested on April 29, 2021, after appearing by appointment at Mayorstone Garda Station in Limerick.
All five were served with Books of Evidence in 2021, and are awaiting trial before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. They are alleged to have been involved in squaring away fixed charge penalty notices for a number of individuals.
At a previous hearing of Limerick District Court, solicitor Dan O’Gorman, representing retired Superintendent Eamon O’Neill said his client would be “vigorously contesting” all of the charges.
The other four accused are Sgt Michelle Leahy, Roxboro Road Garda Station; Sgt Anne-Marie Hassett; Kerry and Limerick Garda Division; Garda Tom McGlinchey, Murroe Garda Station and Garda Colm Geary, Clare Garda Division.
Mr O’Neill is charged with 30 counts; Sgt Leahy, two counts; Garda McGlinchey, four counts; Garda Geary, three counts; and Sgt Hassett, three counts.
The charges relate to alleged incidents on dates between October 9, 2016, and September 6, 2019, at various locations in Limerick and the wider Mid-West region.
As part of the same investigation, a number of other serving Gardai have been suspended pending a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Those officers have been on suspension without arrest or charge for the past two and half years.
The post All-Ireland winning Limerick hurler charged in Garda corruption probe appeared first on Limerick Post Newspaper.