Courts / Dublin / Report
Detective told supervisor she could not have forged letter, trial hears
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Detective Garda Catherine McGowan, aged 48 and based at Bray Garda Station, pleaded not guilty to one count of forgery and two counts of using a false instrument. The alleged false instrument was a letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions dated 14 January 2009, which McGowan claimed was a copy she had received and later delivered to the Murphy Tribunal. Detective Inspector Frank Keenaghan, the supervisor, testified that he showed McGowan the letter and asked her to consider its authenticity. McGowan insisted she could not have forged it, and Keenaghan clarified that he was not accusing her of forgery. The trial, presided over by Judge Mary Ellen Ring with a jury of twelve, is scheduled to continue for another week.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Detective told supervisor she could not have forged letter, trial hears. Charges or matters: one count of forgery on January 15, 2009 at Bray Garda Station and two counts of using a false instrument at Bray Garda Station and at Harcourt Street Garda Station between June 21 and 22, 2011. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- January 15, 2009 Other
- June 21 Other
- January 14, 2009 Other
- April 6, 2011 Other
- 2015-03-02 Publication
Why: Det Inspector Keenaghan said that he asked Gda McGowan to think about it, "because on the face of it, we were misleading the Murphy Tribunal, and this was now the time to talk about it and put things right. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: one count of forgery on January 15, 2009 at Bray Garda Station and two counts of using a false instrument at Bray Garda Station and at Harcourt Street Garda Station between June 21 and 22, 2011 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- is based at Bray Garda Station
- Bray
- at Bray Garda Station
- false instrument at Bray Garda Station
- and at Harcourt Street Garda Station
- Harcourt Street
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request