A garda, Colum Ryan (35), with a residental address in Co Meath, is facing a trial on charges of obstruction of justice, burglary, and the illegal detention of a woman in Dublin. The charges were brought before him at the Dublin District Court on Friday, involving five alleged offences which took place in 2021. Colum Ryan is one of four officers currently facing court proceedings, in connection to the same inquiry led by the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).
Ryan stands accused of producing and issuing a search warrant and related data on September 30th in an attempt to mislead public justice, following a search conducted on September 7th at a basement flat in Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1. Charges further suggest that between September 30th and December 8th, Ryan had solicited the sign-offs of peace commissioner Steven Wrenn and another unidentified man on the said warrant.
Ryan also faces charges for a reported break-in at the same basement flat on September 7th, and for allegedly holding a woman captive against her volition on the same day at St John’s Road West, Dublin 8.
ACU Det Sgt Garda Kieran Kilcoyne furnished the defendant with a book of evidence at the Dublin District Court. Judge Michael Ramsey acknowledged the DPP’s instruction for a trial on indictment and consented to an order for a return-for-trial. He also informed Ryan that the case would be advanced to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court with a hearing scheduled for June 20th.
Ryan, who was in plain clothes, indicated that he comprehended the formal warning signalling him to inform the prosecution if he planned on using an alibi for his defence. As of now, Ryan has made no plea and gave no answer when the charges were read to him. His legal representative, Solicitor Elizabeth Hughes, requested for legal aid for her client and for the inclusion of a senior counsel for the defence citing the gravity of the charges. Judge Ramsey agreed to the request and released him on a bail of €200.
Three other Dublin-based gardaí were similarly committed to trial last week on related charges.
The three individuals: 43-year-old Robert Gorman from North Dublin, 39-year-old Garda Mark Duffy based in Dublin 15, and 51-year-old Garda Sgt Ciaran Whelan, dwelling in Nenagh, Tipperary, are facing charges of thwarting justice and residential break-ins. Additional charge of illegally confining a woman has been placed on Sergeant Whelan.
In addition, a former Labour Party councillor and peace commissioner is also accused of obstructing justice and counterfeiting. Steven Wrenn- a 50 year old from Iveragh Road, Whitehall, Dublin, purportedly approved two fraudulent inspection authorisations for residences in Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1 and Kenilworth Road in 2021. He pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to reappear in court in June, when he will receive a compendium of evidence and a directive for his trial.