Gardaí verifying FBI identification of mystery man who applied for false passports in Cork

Gardaí have sought an adjournment to allow them to verify an FBI identification of a mystery man who has been charged with falsely applying for two Irish passports in the names of two babies who died over 70 years ago.

Det Garda Padraic Hanley of the Garda National Bureau of Crime Investigation told Cork District Court that gardaí had received a positive identification from the FBI for the man who has appeared in court under the name Philip Morris, although gardaí are satisfied that Philip Morris is not his real name.

“We have carried out extensive international inquiries and we have received a positive identification for this gentleman from the FBI from an arrest record from 1970 but we only received the identification at the end of last week, so we want time to confirm it,” said Det Garda Hanley.

The man who appeared in court by video link was first charged last month with two offences that he provided false information in relation to a passport application on a date between September 12th and 25th, 2012 and again on June 7th, 2022 at the Passport Office, South Mall, Cork.

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The particulars of the charges state that the accused provided information for the issue of a passport that was false or misleading.

Earlier this month, the man was charged with a third offence that he provided false or misleading information or documents at the Cork Passport Office on September 11th last when he allegedly applied for a passport in the name of Geoffrey Warbrook.

Det Garda Hanley previously told Judge Olann Kelleher that gardaí had established from inquiries that both Philip Morris and Geoffrey Warbrook died in 1952 and 1953 when they were infants.

He told previous sittings of the court that the accused had declined to identify himself to gardaí. Detectives liaised with Interpol in a bid to determine the identity of the man, who is balding, with a white beard and American accent.

On Tuesday, Judge Joanne Carroll asked Det Garda Hanley how the identification had been reached and he said that they were talking about fingerprint records from the FBI relating to an arrest in 1970. He said more time was needed to confirm the man’s identity.

The accused’s solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said his client consented to the State application for an adjournment.

Det Garda Hanley said he was due to meet the accused at Cork Prison later on Tuesday and that may also progress the matter. Judge Carroll adjourned the matter until November 7th and remanded the accused in continuing custody to appear in court again on that date by video link.