Finally.

A vast and exhausting exhaustive overhaul to our Thin Blue Timeline covering all aspects of the Garda trouble of late. A graphic version will be completed tomorrow for those who like pictures with their text. Thanks to all who suggested entries. All errors will be corrected.

Behold then the diary of an appalling vista.

December 22, 1996:
French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier is beaten to death outside her holiday home near Toormore, Schull, Co. Cork on the night of December 22, 1996. Her murder remains unsolved.

1997 – 1998 2007:
[Dates unknown] Ian Bailey is twice arrested over the course of 1997 and 1998, for questioning about Sophie Toscan du Plantier’s murder. During both arrests he was taken to Bandon Garda Stations, where he denied killed Ms Du Plantier and was released without charge.

December 2, 2003:
Kieran Boylan, from Ardee, Co. Louth is caught by members of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation in a ‘Garda stakeout’ receiving more than €700,000 worth of cocaine and heroin at Dublin Port. He’s charged and released on bail.

October 6, 2005:
Boylan is caught with €1.7million of cocaine and heroin in Ardee, Co. Louth, by members of the Garda National Drugs Unit.

December 21, 2005:
It’s reported Boylan was remanded on bail by Judge Desmond Hogan pending sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in relation to the Dublin Port charges. The court heard a detective garda agree with Boylan’s defence lawyers that Boylan believed the heroin he collected was cocaine and that this indicated that he was not ‘in the hierarchy of the operation’. The court also heard the detective accept that Boylan was in debt and under pressure from his associates in England – whom Boylan was involved with before when he was jailed for 7 and a 1/2 years in England over cannabis possession, in 1997.

February 16, 2006:
It’s reported that Judge Desmond Hogan – again in relation to the Dublin Port charges – sentences Boylan for five years and suspends the final two years, on condition Boylan keeps the peace.

2007:
[Dates unknown]
It’s reported on March 30, 2014 that three gardaí told an internal inquiry, carried out by now retired Assistant Commissioner Ray McAndrew, that Ms Farrell received preferential treatment during the early stages of the investigation into the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, as she was considered an “important” witness. RTÉ’s This Week reported: “This includes one allegation in 2006 that a senior garda inquired about whether garda funds could be used to pay for fines, including speeding fines, owed by Ms Farrell. That internal report, carried out by a now retired assistant commissioner, Ray McAndrew, over 2006 and 2007, has never been published. However, sections of it have been released under discovery in the legal action taken by Mr Bailey. RTÉ’s This Week has also learned that another senior officer was tasked with investigating the allegation that Ms Farrell was offered preferential treatment as a witness. That report has also not been published.”Continue reading →