A JURY failed to reach a verdict yesterday in the trial of a 31-year-old garda charged with corruptly issuing a driving licence to his brother, who is also a garda, while he was formerly employed as a county council clerical officer.
During his three-day trial before Galway Circuit Criminal Court this week, Brendan Folan had pleaded not guilty
Brendan Folan with an address at Mount Anville Wood, Lower Kilmacud Road, Dublin, denied corruptly obtaining an advantage for Ciarán Folan (40) by issuing him with a full, 10-year driving licence, valid from 2006 and 2016 while Brendan Folan was employed as a public official at Galway County Council.
The charge was brought under section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act 2001.
During the trial, prosecuting barrister Conor Fahy said in this case the driving licence should only have been issued on the production of a certificate of competency (to drive) from An Garda Síochána. The evidence in the case, he said, was that there was no such certificate.
Paul McDermott SC, defending, told the jury the prosecution had failed to prove his client had actually issued the licence.
After the failure of the jury to reach a verdict, Mr Fahy said he would have to obtain further directions from the DPP’s office and he applied to have the matter put into the court list at a later date.
Judge Raymond Groarke listed the matter for February 21st.