Limerick man goes on trial accused of corruption by giving detective €20k for information on CAB

A JURY has been sworn in for the trial of a Limerick businessman accused of corruption by giving a detective garda €20,000 in exchange for information relating to an investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau.

Stephen O' Sullivan, aged 43, of Farrehy, Broadford, County Limerick, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of corruption at Bruree, County Limerick on December 22, 2018.

Opening the case this Wednesday, Eoin Lawlor SC, prosecuting, told the court it would be alleged Mr O’Sullivan was given information by Detective Garda David Bourke, who he said was not before them.

David Bourke joined An Garda Siochana in 1995 and was transferred from Kerry to Limerick in 1998 where he became a detective working in the area of serious crime.

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Mr Lawlor said in 2018 Mr O’Sullivan had a car dealership on Ballysimon Road in Limerick, and a CAB investigation called 'Operation Glacier' was underway into whether or not people have the proceeds of crime.

He told the court that on December 12, 2018, Det Garda Bourke and Mr O’ Sullivan met in Bruree and had a conversation in a Berlingo van.

Mr Lawlor said in his opening address to the jury, that this conversation was recorded by an audio recording device concerning a payment of €20,000. Counsel said the jury would hear Det Garda Bourke accepting the money.

“You will hear him talk of the progress of the investigation and how to respond”. Mr Lawlor said it would be alleged Det Garda Bourke also told Mr O’Sullivan “how to put off the Revenue Commissioners”.

Mr Lawlor said during the CAB investigation, information was “carefully controlled”, that neither Det Garda Bourke “ought not have had” and Mr O’Sullivan “certainly ought not have had”.

The jury was told Mr O’Sullivan met with gardai in 2022 and told them how he came to be in the Berlingo van and pay Det Garda Bourke the €20,000. It was also told Mr O’Sullivan maintains he was intimidated or extorted to pay over that money.

The trial will resume on Thursday in front of a jury of seven women and five men with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin presiding and is expected to last two to three weeks.

The judge warned the jury not to talk about the case or to research it outside of court.