Courts / Wicklow / Report
Detective Garda acquitted of forging letter from DPP
Summary
Detective Garda Catherine McGowan, aged 48 and based at Bray Garda Station, was acquitted of forging a letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and of using a false instrument. The case concerned an investigation into a priest accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl, a matter highlighted by the Murphy Report. McGowan had pleaded not guilty to one count of forgery and two counts of using a false instrument in 2009 and 2011. After a 14‑day trial, a jury of twelve deliberated for just over three hours and returned unanimous not‑guilty verdicts on all three counts. The State alleged McGowan had forged the letter to conceal her failure to complete the investigation, but the jury found no evidence of wrongdoing. The trial concluded with Judge Mary Ellen Ring thanking the jury for their service.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Detective Garda acquitted of forging letter from DPP. 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 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 14, 2009 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2007 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 2009 Other
- April 2011 Other
- July 2007 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-03-12 Publication
Why: The State presented evidence of a copy of a letter, supposedly from the DPP, which stated that a prosecution of the priest would be "impossible" because of "conjecture" in the alleged victim's statement. Prosecution account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Defendant
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
- Harcourt Square
Topics
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