Courts / Dublin / Report
Criminal who received leaked data from Garda pulse system is jailed
Summary
Ryan Fitzpatrick (26) was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment for perverting the course of justice and corruptly offering a gift to access Garda intelligence. The court heard that Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to attempting to destroy a mobile phone linked to a SIM card in Malahide on May 27, 2020, and to corruptly offering a gift to Lauryn McCann to influence her employment acts. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Fitzpatrick threw his phone into water during a raid, an act described as "crude but effective," though Gardaí salvaged the SIM card. This evidence linked him to messages with McCann, a former civilian employee who was jailed for two and a half years in November 2022 after admitting to corruptly agreeing to accept an inducement and disclosing Garda Pulse system files. McCann had sent approximately 70 photos to an individual referred to as "R" in exchange for cash. Fitzpatrick, who has 30 previous convictions, fled Ireland and was extradited via a European Arrest Warrant. The judge set a headline sentence of six years but reduced it to four years, with the final three months suspended, allowing for time spent in custody.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Criminal who received leaked data from Garda pulse system is jailed. Charges or matters: a count of corruptly agreeing to accept an inducement to access garda intelligence and a count of obtaining and disclosing garda intelligence files to a third party on dates in May 2020; perverting the course of justice by attempting to destroy a mobile phone linked to a particular SIM card in Malahide on May 27, 2020; corruptly offering a gift to Lauryn McCann to convince her to do an act in relation to her employment on a date unknown. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 27, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2020 and 2019 Other
- 2024-04-30 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: a count of corruptly agreeing to accept an inducement to access garda intelligence and a count of obtaining and disclosing garda intelligence files to a third party on dates in May 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Detective Garda Garret Durnan told John Berry BL, prosecuting, that a former civilian employee with An Garda Siochana, Lauryn McCann (23) was jailed for two and a half years in November 2022 after she admitted to forwarding photos of information on the Pulse system to an individual in return for cash. At that sentence hearing, the court heard that McCann sent around 70 photos using WhatsApp over a seven-day period to an individual referred to as "R".
Defendant
Charges: perverting the course of justice by attempting to destroy a mobile phone linked to a particular SIM card in Malahide on May 27, 2020; corruptly offering a gift to Lauryn McCann to convince her to do an act in relation to her employment on a date unknown; a count of corruptly agreeing to accept an inducement to access garda intelligence and a count of obtaining and disclosing garda intelligence files to a third party on dates in May 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He said taking into account mitigating factors, including Fitzpatrick's plea of guilty, he would impose a sentence of four years with the final three months suspended allowing for time Fitzpatrick has spent in custody.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
Related court reports
- Judge rejects Gill's arguments against extradition for Robbie Lawlor murder
- Sligo man Barry Young wanted in NI for gangland murder of Robbie Lawlor
- Court hears of 'thuggish' attack on bus passenger who objected to social distancing breaches
- Robbie Lawlor murder accused argues UK trial would breach his rights
- Gill has CAB liability of €860k, bail application told
- Gill's lawyers served with documents covering 'every interaction' with State, court hears
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request