Courts / Tipperary / Report

Veteran criminal defence solicitor worried gardai or DPP's office wanted to 'stitch him up', trial hears

Date
2024-11-08

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Cahir

Summary

A veteran criminal defence solicitor, Cahir O'Higgins, has told a trial that he believed someone in the gardai or the Director of Public Prosecutions' office wanted to 'stitch him up' because he had 'annoyed people'. O'Higgins, 49, is on trial for one count of theft of €400 in July 2016 and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in December 2017. He denies the allegations. The court heard that O'Higgins was representing a Spanish national, Raul Sanz Quilis, who was charged with criminal damage. During the case, O'Higgins allegedly used Sanz Quilis's bank card to withdraw €600 from an ATM, with €400 allegedly taken into his possession. The case against Sanz was struck out after €200 was paid to the court. O'Higgins also provided gardai with notes he claimed to have made during the incident, but the prosecution alleges they contained false information. Cahir O'Higgins pleaded not guilty. Sanz Quilis pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Veteran criminal defence solicitor worried gardai or DPP's office wanted to 'stitch him up', trial hears. Charges or matters: one count of the theft of €400 in July 2016 and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in December 2017; the theft of €400 on July 30, 2016 at Londis shop, on Parkgate Street; four counts of perverting the course of public justice contrary to common law, on December 8 and December 17, 2017, within the State and at the Bridewell Garda Station in Dublin. Procedural stage: trial

When:

July 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
December 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
July 30, 2016 Incident
July 30, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
December 8, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
December 8 Hearing Or Sentence
December 17, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
2024-11-08 Publication

Why: He continued that he was "petrified" about a complaint being made to the Law Society because he hadn't spoken to Mr Sanz Quilis before the hearing. CNI source report

Case subjects

Cahir O'Higgins

Accused

Charges: one count of the theft of €400 in July 2016 and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in December 2017; the theft of €400 on July 30, 2016 at Londis shop, on Parkgate Street; four counts of perverting the course of public justice contrary to common law, on December 8 and December 17, 2017, within the State and at the Bridewell Garda Station in Dublin (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Sanz Quilis

Applicant

Charges: the theft of €400 on July 30, 2016 at Londis shop, on Parkgate Street; four counts of perverting the course of public justice contrary to common law, on December 8 and December 17, 2017, within the State and at the Bridewell Garda Station in Dublin (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty