*Ennis Garda Station.
A GARDA charged with the unauthorised disclosure of Garda PULSE personal data on 14 individuals to a co-accused charged with a drug trafficking offence has been sent forward for trial.
At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Alec Gabbett sent Shane Flanagan (39) of Lifford Rd, Ennis for trial to Ennis Circuit Court where he is facing 14 separate counts of disclosing personal data on the Garda PULSE Information system to another person on dates between January 12th 2020 to September 24th 2020.
Inspector David Finnerty of Ennis Garda Station gave sworn evidence that he served the Book of Evidence on Mr Flanagan in court. The Book of Evidence was due to be served on Mr Flanagan at an earlier court sitting this month but was adjourned to today after Sgt John Burke said, “it is a complex matter”.
Judge Gabbett told Mr Flanagan that if an alibi forms any part of his defence his solicitor was to inform the State within 14 days in writing.
Acting as agent for Mr Flanagan’s solicitor, Dan O’Gorman, solicitor Daragh Hassett told Judge Gabbett that he “has no instructions” to apply for legal aid for Mr Flanagan.
The charges relate to Mr Flanagan disclosing the personal data without authorisation from the Garda PULSE system to Colm Meere (43) of Knockanean, Ennis of fourteen separate individuals and only their initials are provided on the charges in order to protect their identity.
The individuals’ initials are listed as LL, FS, LMc, RN, SH, DC, WS, LG, GL, NC, KR, KD, DD and IS.
Mr Flanagan is charged under the Data Protection Act.
Mr Flanagan’s co-accused, Colm Meere is facing companion PULSE charges where he is charged with inciting Shane Flanagan to disclose personal data from the Garda PULSE Information system on the same 14 individuals on dates between January 12th to September 24th 2020. Those charges are also under the Data Protection Act.
Mr Meere is also facing a drug trafficking charge where on April 14th 2022, at Henry Garda Station, Limerick within a 161 D vehicle did possess a number of articles – a tick list, bag sealer, tin foil, scissors, baggies, mobile phone, purple folder, and a number of Dunnes Stores bags “in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that these articles were in your possession for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation, facilitation or instigation of a drug trafficking offence”.
The charge is under the Criminal justice Act 2007.
In court, solicitor for Mr Meere, Daragh Hassett asked that two counsel represent Mr Meere in the circuit court in view of “the particularly serious charges” his client is facing.
Judge Gabbett granted Mr Hassett’s request for legal aid for two counsel to represent Mr Meere. Judge Gabbett also gave Mr Meere the alibi warning.
Mr Hassett has previously told the court that while his client may be a co-accused in theory, he would be looking for a separate trial for his client and he agreed with Judge Gabbett that this could be done at the circuit court.
Judge Gabbett further remanded Mr Flanagan and Mr Meere on bail on the same terms to appear before the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Court which commences next month.
