Garda trial in Limerick hears it shouldn't matter 'what personal connections you have'

THE TRIAL of a retired superintendent and four serving gardaí has commenced in Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.

The court heard that there should be no correlation between personal connections to gardaí and the termination of potential penalty points for road traffic offences. 

On Monday, a jury of eight men and four women was empanelled and a witness list was presented, to ensure there were no conflicts of interest. This list consisted of more than 40 gardaí, including senior members such as chief superintendents, superintendents, and detective gardaí, as well as civilians from An Post, the Department of Transport and GoSafe van staff. 

The jury were also given a list of well-known people, including sports personalities who are “prominent within the community” and in the wider Limerick area, who would be referenced. 

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All five defendants (retired Superintendent Eamon O'Neill, Garda Colm Geary, Garda Thomas McGlinchey, Sergeant Michelle Leahy and Sergeant Anne-Marie Hassett) who were present in court in Mulgrave Street on Monday and Tuesday, were first arraigned on five sample charges on Monday (November 10, 2025). 

Today (Tuesday, November 11, 2025), each of them pleaded not guilty to a total of 39 charges, which all relate to attempting to pervert the course of justice over Fixed Charge Penalty Notices (FCPN) relating to road traffic offences.  

Retired Superintendent Edmond (Eamon) O’Neill, who was stationed in Roxboro Road garda station pleaded not guilty to 27 counts, including the termination of potential or pending FCPN’s, which include speeding offences, having no insurance, holding a mobile phone while driving, and not wearing a seatbelt.

A civilian member of An Garda Síochána, Cathal Mannion outlined the service of each garda member to the court. 

He said that Mr O’Neill first became a member of An Garda Síochána in 1991 and was stationed in Stepaside in Dublin, Roxboro Road garda station, Henry Street garda station, Mayorstone garda station and Newcastle West, as well as Midleton in Cork, before his final transfer to Roxboro Road garda station in 2018, before he retired in November 2020. 

The court heard he was promoted to sergeant in 2001, became an inspector in 2010 and was promoted to superintendent in 2016. 

Mr O’Neill also faces a charge of allegedly advising someone on how to falsely offset penalty points by falsely nominating somebody else as the driver. 

Garda Colm Geary who was stationed in Kilrush and then Ennis in Clare, pleaded not guilty to three counts of terminating potential or pending FCPN’s relating to speeding offences and having no insurance. 

Garda Thomas McGlinchey of Murroe garda station pleaded not guilty to four counts of terminating potential or pending FCPN’s, which all concerned speeding offences. 

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He was stationed in Louth, Blanchardstown, Templemore, Thurles and Bruff, before transferring to Murroe where he remained. 

Sergeant Michelle Leahy of Roxboro Road garda station, and who was the garda court presenter in Kilmallock District Court, pleaded not guilty to two counts, one of applying to strike out a speeding offence and another of applying to have a summons withdrawn in court. 

The court heard she was promoted to sergeant in 2010, nine years after becoming a member of An Garda Síochána and served in Henry Street, Bruff, Portumna and then transferred to Roxboro Road garda station in 2019. 

Sergeant Anne-Marie Hassett who had been stationed in Mayorstone, Henry Street and then Ennistymon garda stations, pleaded not guilty to three counts of terminating potential or pending FCPNs relating to speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and holding a mobile phone while driving. 

The alleged offences for all five accused relate to incidents between October 2016 and September 2019.  

It was originally put forth by Carol Hanahoe SC for the State prosecution that the trial would take one month, however, Felix McEnroy SC, representing Eamon O’Neill said that as the number of witnesses has now increased, “it is now much greater than it was” and that he would doubt that the “time estimate is viable.” 

The trial has been given a timeline of six weeks, which could bring it to Christmas. 

In charging the jury of eight men and four women, Judge Roderick Maguire stressed that the length of the trial is not definite. 

“It’s only an estimate, it's not possible to be exact,” he said. 

He urged the members of the jury that they “must not reach conclusions before the end of the trial.”

Carol Hanahoe SC addressed the jury on behalf of the State prosecution and told the members of the jury that “there will be a substantial amount of documentary evidence.” 

Mr Hanahoe told jurors that perverting the course of justice refers to “improperly interfering with” the course of justice. 

He spoke about the alleged offences involving FCPN's and how most people “take the points - we don't like it, but we take the points” adding that it often urges people to be more mindful of offences when driving again. 

In outlining evidence that the prosecution would present, Mr Hanahoe said: “The vast majority have in common a personal connection between the motorist and Mr O’Neill.”

He added: “It ought to matter not what personal connections you have.”

Mr Hanahoe told the jurors: “It should not in any way influence the prosecution of an offence.”

The trial continues this week at Limerick Circuit Court in Mulgrave Street and could last up to six weeks.