Garda charged with soliciting murder of woman, 3 children

A garda in his 30s has appeared before Dublin District Court charged with soliciting a person to murder a woman and three children.

The garda, who was serving in the Dublin area and who has been suspended from duty, cannot be identified, by court order, nor can any of the alleged victims in the case.

He is charged that in August 2021, he solicited an unknown person, to murder the woman, a girl and two boys, who also cannot be identified.

In addition to those four charges, he is further charged that on a date unknown between 9 February 2019 and 16 July 2020 within the State that he dishonestly and with the intention of causing loss to the woman by deception, attempted to induce her to refrain from seeking financial support for a child.

The investigation was carried out by the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit.

The garda will appear again before the Central Criminal Court on 25 September, when a book of evidence will be served.

Detective Sergeant Mark Melbourne from the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit said the man had been arrested, charged and cautioned at Kevin Street Garda Station this morning where he made no reply in relation to five charges.

There was no objection to bail and he was released on his own bond of €300.

Judge Darach McCarthy imposed reporting restrictions which mean that no party to this case including the garda and his address can be published.

The Garda Anti-Corruption Unit had been carrying out an investigation into the activities of the garda member based in the Dublin region.