Posted by Shane Flanagan, a 39-year-old former Garda from County Clare, is set to be sentenced on July 29, 2025, for serious crimes involving the impersonation of a female colleague online. He pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting men to rape the woman, six counts of endangerment by inviting violence against her and her teenage daughters, and one count of possessing four images of child sexual abuse material. These offenses occurred between 2018 and 2021. Flanagan used platforms like FetLife and Facebook to share the woman’s personal information, including her address and photos, with the intent of arranging for strangers to rape her. The victim, a fellow Garda and friend, described the acts as a “calculated, predatory act of violence,” causing significant trauma, anxiety, and loss of trust in her career and An Garda Síochána. Flanagan, who resigned from the force in March 2025 after being suspended in 2021, expressed guilt and shame in a letter of apology. The court heard he has suicidal ideation and is at low to medium risk of re-offending. He remains in custody pending sentencing.
Additionally, Flanagan faces separate charges related to the unauthorized disclosure of personal data from the Garda PULSE system to Colm Meere, involving 14 individuals between January and September 2020. This case has been sent to Ennis Circuit Court, with a trial scheduled for 2025
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