A judge yesterday refused jurisdiction in the case of a garda charged with stealing cigarettes from Garda headquarters after she heard they were to be an exhibit in a court case.
Judge Miriam Malone decided that Garda Denis Grehan (44), Churchpark Lawn, Harold's Cross Road, Dublin, should be tried in the Circuit Court. He is charged under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act with stealing the 15,260 Superking cigarettes on May 4th last.
Judge Malone was told yesterday that the DPP had directed that the case be dealt with in Dublin District Court but only on a plea of guilty. Garda Grehan's solicitor, Mr Bobby Eagar, said he was anxious to take this course.
After hearing an outline of the alleged facts from Supt John McDermott, Judge Malone refused to allow the case to be dealt with in the District Court because she considered it too serious.
Supt McDermott said it was alleged Garda Grehan took a quantity of cigarettes, which were in the custody of the Garda Síochána for a trial, and handed them to another party. The cigarettes were recovered.
A date for the trial involving the cigarettes had been set for July 9th last. The court also heard Garda Grehan was not involved in the investigation relating to the cigarettes, and he had moved them from one location to another. He was remanded on continuing bail to April 6th for service of a book of evidence.