Garda on trial over 89 charges of deception, corruption and money laundering

A serving member of An Garda Siochana has gone on trial in connection with 89 charges of deception, corruption and money laundering charges.

Joseph Doyle, 39, who is a serving member of An Garda Siochana is alleged to have committed the offences while working as Acting Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Inspector for County Meath on various dates between 2018 and 2020.

It is alleged that in his role as a public service vehicle inspector he induced named persons at various locations in Co Meath to give him sums ranging from €20 to €250 for fictitious brake tests, Article 60 licences and cash for fictitious charities.

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It is alleged he collected a total of just under €5,000 in cash and cheques from a number of alleged victims. On Tuesday, June 4, at Trim Circuit Court the accused, of Kilcock, Co Meath pleaded not guilty to all 89 charges in front of a jury of eight women and four men and presiding Judge John Martin.

The trial is expected to take three weeks. Opening the trial, prosecuting counsel Carl Hanahoe, BL, said it is alleged that while the accused was a PSV Inspector for County Meath it was his job to test public service vehicles such as taxis, mini-buses and coaches.

“Taxis, mini-buses, coaches etc need a PSV licence and are required to have their vehicles checked,” Mr Hanahoe told the jury. He said a general PSV licence costs €60 for the normal 3 year length and a second licence – an Article 60 licence is required for operating school transport – at no extra fee.

“What is alleged to have occurred is that Mr Doyle decided he was going to test the vehicle’s brakes- which seems like an appropriate thing to do. And while testing brakes, lights, seat belts etc can also be tested,” explained Mr Hanahoe.

“However,” said Mr Hanahoe, “You cannot charge for testing and this is one of the key features of this case. It is alleged Mr Doyle started charging bus drivers for brake tests at a motor yard in Navan. “He had no authority to demand additional payments,” said Mr Hanahoe.

The brake tests, Mr Hanahoe alleges, “effectively became an additional charge to get a PSV licence and that is corruption.” Mr Doyle is also alleged to have charged several victims €60 each for Article 60 licences. A second element of the trial is deception, which Mr Hanahoe explained that it is to say to someone you are required to do the brake tests to get a PSV licence.

Mr Hanahoe said the third element is reference to a number of charitable donations which are alleged to have been fictitious which Mr Doyle is alleged to have asked some of the alleged victims to make payments to him for the charities.

Mr Doyle is also charged with money laundering offences – allegedly lodging amounts of cash into a bank account knowing it to be the proceeds of crime. The charges follow an investigation into public service vehicle inspections. The trial is to continue on Wednesday and is expected to take three weeks.

The accused, dressed in a grey suit, blue tie and brown shoes, only spoke in court to acknowledge he is Joseph Doyle and to enter not guilty pleas to all 89 charges.

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