Former city councillor Gary O'Flynn charged with soliciting Garda murder

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/former-city-councillor-gary-oflynn-charged-with-soliciting-garda-murder-29107632.html

 Gary O'Flynn, the son of former Cork TD Noel O'Flynn, pictured at Cork District Court

By Ralph Riegel – 04 March 2013

A FORMER city councillor was today charged with soliciting someone to murder a Garda, a Revenue Commissioners official and an accountant.

Gary O'Flynn (37), the son of former Cork Td Noel O'Flynn (FF), was charged with three counts of soliciting someone to commit murder.

The charges were brought contrary to Section 4 of the Offences Against the Persons Act (1861) and relate to dates between October 1 2012 and February 15 2013.
The charges involve an address on the Mallow Road in Cork.
The three individuals named in the charges are Det Garda Mary Skehan, Revenue Commissioner official George Ross and accountant Patrick Sweeney.
Judge Leo Malone was told that the former Cork City Council member replied "not guilty' when each of the three charges were put to him at Gurranabraher Garda Station.
The State objected to bail and Judge Malone remanded Mr O'Flynn in custody to appear again before Cork District Court on Wednesday.
O’Flynn of Hayfield Drive, Castle Court, Whitechurch, Co Cork applied for free legal and told the court that he presently had no source of income.
Judge Malone said he wanted to see bank account details and reserved the question of legal aid until Wednesday.
Mr O'Flynn appeared in court wearing slacks, a grey jumper and a blue jacket.
He gave evidence both in support of his application for free legal aid and bail.
A qualified solicitor, Gary O'Flynn had taken his father’s old seat on Cork City Council in 2003 when the dual-mandate ban came into force.
He ended his political career five years later with the City Council seat going to his brother, Ken.
Mr O’Flynn’s father was first elected to the Dail in 1997 and served as a TD for 14 years.
He was famously outspoken as a backbench TD and criticised both Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen for their leadership of the party and country.
The former TD also criticised current party leader Michael Martin for allegedly failing to support his son Ken’s Seanad bid.
Noel O’Flynn agreed not defend his seat at the 2011 General Election at Mr Martin’s specific request amid concerns that, if the party vote was split, they would fail to elect a TD in Jack Lynch’s old constituency for the first time in FF history.

The former TD was taken to a Cork hospital last Friday as a precautionary measure after complaining of dizziness and chest pains.