Key man in traff icking probe was sent bullet and thong

A DETECTIVE inspector who was once sent a Valentine’s card containing a bullet and a thong has been described as a ‘key man’ in dismantling a people-smuggling operation at Dublin Airport.

Three men were this week charged in connection with the trafficking of illegal immigrants into the State through Dublin Airport. Detective Inspector Michael Buckley was at the centre of the investigation. He previously featured in a controversy in the Garda cold-case unit when he received a package at work from a woman known to a garda who worked under him, David O’Brien.

Dublin District Court heard last year how the woman allegedly mailed the envelope to Det. Buckley.

When Garda O’Brien was interviewed by the Garda Ombudsman, he claimed he had not been in touch with her since the 1990s. But the court heard they had exchanged hundreds of texts before and after the package was sent. The complaint was made by Det. Buckley’s wife, who said her husband was being intimidated.

Garda O’Brien denied any knowledge of the posting of the card, which contained a bullet and a thong, but was later convicted of making a false statement to GSOC.

Det. Buckley and Garda O’Brien were both members of the Serious Crime Review Team, but Det. Buckley was since promoted and is now attached to the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

Mr O’Brien has since left the force.