A Co Meath based garda has been cleared of corruption and deception following a six-day trial at Trim Circuit Court.
Father of two Mark Egan (38 ) who is stationed at Dunshaughlin Garda Station pleaded not guilty to three charges of corruptly preventing the issuing of fixed penalty notices to three motorists, one charge of corruptly getting another driver's summons struck out and four charges of inducing the motorists to disclose credit card details with the intention of dishonestly making a gain by deception for another in October 2012.
The prosecution alleged the offences were committed in Ratoath, Dunshaughlin, Trim and Navan as the defendant was carrying out his normal road traffic duties and the motorists involved sanctioned credit card payments to the 3T’s suicide awareness charity totalling €190.
The court heard the drivers were happy to make the donations and in most instances offered to pay the same amount as the fines but the garda told them that would be too much and suggested they donate half that amount.
At the time the garda was raising sponsorship for 3T’s through a page on the mycharity.ie website as he planned to run the Dublin City Marathon that year for the charity.
The court heard gardaí began an investigation following a complaint from a fifth driver John Hayes.
Mr Hayes told the court he was stopped by Garda Egan for speeding on 8th Oct 2012 and later got a call from the defendant requesting a donation to charity in lieu of penalty points and a fine.
The witness said he was shocked at being asked for his credit card details and fobbed the garda off but two days later complained to a garda superintendent.
In cross examination Garda Egan denied any wrongdoing or abusing his powers of discretion.
He claimed he only suggested a donation to the 3T’s charity after he had told the drivers they would not be fined or given penalty points.
He said the idea came to him after a tiler he had stopped for speeding complained that he would rather the €80 fine went to charity rather than to the State.
The tiler claimed to be on the way to his first day’s work in six-months for which he was to get €80 and if he had to pay the fine he might as well have stayed in bed according to Garda Egan.
The defendant told the court he had felt sorry for the man and told him to go on.
After deliberating for just over an hour and a half the jury of seven men and five women found Garda Egan not guilty by unanimous verdict on all eight charges.