The jury in the trial of a garda accused of corruption and deception is due to begin considering its verdict tomorrow.
Mark Egan, 38, who is stationed at Dunshaughlin Garda Station in Co Meath has pleaded not guilty to three charges of corruptly preventing the issuing of fixed penalty notices, one charge of corruptly getting a summons struck out and charges of inducing four motorists to disclose credit card details to facilitate the payment of a charity donation in October 2012 in lieu of penalty points or a fine.
A fifth driver told Trim Circuit Court he was stopped for speeding and was shocked when he later got a call from Gda Egan who asked for his credit card details to facilitate a payment for charity instead of being fined.
Gda Egan told the court he had invited the drivers to make a donation but only after telling them they would not be fined or given penalty points.
In his closing speech to the jury, prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC said that Gda Egan had been in a position of power and created an impression with the drivers that if they made a donation they would not be fined.
Defence Counsel Pat McGrath SC said his client was entitled to use his discretion and no one had been misled as there was a paper trail for the donations.
Following legal argument after a summary of the evidence from Judge Leonie Reynolds, the trial was adjourned until tomorrow morning when the jury of seven men and five women is due to begin considering its verdict.
