Garda hopeful forged drug test result, Kildare court hears
Photo for illustrative purposes only
A MAN from Co Kildare who was looking to join An Garda Síochána but who forged a drug analysis cert on his application, avoided a jail sentence but was fined a total of €2,000 at a recent sitting of Athy District Court.
The man in his 30s from the county cannot be named by court order with Judge Desmond Zaidan commenting: “There are keyboard warriors all over the place”.
Sergeant Dave Hanrahan told the court that this offence had happened at a given address in Kildare on a date between 28-30 July, 2025, and that a €30 bag of cocaine was found at his address following a subsequent search.
The man had already entered a guilty plea, and had no previous convictions.
“They took a sample of hair, and it showed traces of drugs,” said Sgt Hanarahan.
“The cert came back to him, and he altered it to show no trace,” he added.
“A brilliant idea, no doubt about it. This (cocaine use) is rampant,” the judge shrugged.
“He had done every single test, and this was the last hurdle. He even told his mother he had been provisionally accepted,” said defending solicitor Tim Kennelly.
The court was told that a close relative was also a garda "while his mother was proud of this man getting in, and told all the neighbours".
“Then the certificate arrived, and he knew it was impending doom, so he stupidly tried to doctor it, but he did make full admissions in (named) Garda Station.
“He said to me that the anxiety after doctoring the cert wasn’t worth it,” said Mr Kennelly.
“This is the first time in 20 years I’ve come across a charge like this,” said the judge.
“Most people in here are trying to get away from the gardaí rather than into the Guards,” said Mr Kennelly.
“He is of the view now that he will never be a Guard now, having wanted to since childhood.
“The bag discovered was from before it all came out.
“He feels sorry for his (family), as well as shame and embarrassment, but there were no victims here,” Mr Kennelly asserted.
“What about the gardaí? What about the people of Ireland?” asked the judge.
“Can I talk to him? How did you think you could take recreational drugs, and be arresting people in Ireland?” asked the judge.
“We don’t have a financial offering yet,” said Mr Kennelly.
“I’m not going that way,” the judge shook his head.
“He doctored the same document. That’s stupid, really”.
“A lot of people don’t lose their career on the first occasion,” noted Mr Kennelly. “Even if you give his S1(i) [Probation Act]?”
“No, no. I’m thinking of the bars,” said the judge.
“I’m not trying to trivialise this, but I’d ask you not to impose a custodial sentence,” pleaded Mr Kennelly.
“One wonders if this was mandated for every job, widened the scope, how many people would fail?” Judge Zaidan mused.
“This is a difficult one. Despite pleading guilty, custodial sentence was staring at me.
“Shame on yourself. Your (relative) in the force, and your innocent mam.
“On the Section 25 [Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud) Act – changing the cert] €1,000 fine … and on the Section 26 [submitting it] a further €1,000…with the S2 [possession] tic.
“I was thinking about jail, but what you did was something a five year old would do,” concluded the judge.
