Serving garda sent forward for trial on 111 corruption charges

A 36-year-old serving garda charged with 111 counts of alleged corruption was sent forward for trial when he appeared at Trim District Court on Thursday.

Joseph Doyle, with an address at The Hawthorns, Kilcock, Co Kildare, was charged with the alleged offences under the Criminal Justice (Corruption) Act 2018. He has also been charged with money laundering.

The charges allege that in his role as a public service vehicle inspector he had induced named persons at various locations in Co Meath to give him sums ranging from €20 to €250 to a total of €855 in cheques or cash for fictitious brake tests or for charity on various dates between 2018 and 2020.

He was also charged with laundering offences, lodging amounts in a post office and bank knowing it to be the proceeds of criminal activity. He was also charged with refusing to allow a garda to take his photograph at a station in Lucan, Dublin.

Det Sgt James King told the court that a book of evidence had been served on the accused. An additional charge was added on Thursday and Sgt King said that when this was put to Mr Doyle he made no reply.

Judge Cephas Power sent the accused forward for trial to Trim Circuit Court on February 18th next. Bail was continued from a previous hearing and Mr Doyle was granted free legal aid in the form of a solicitor and two counsel.