‘Her profile photo isn’t too worn-out’: Disgraced ex-garda provided Pulse information on female vehicle drivers to pal

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Disgraced ex-garda Shane Flanagan took part in “repetitive criminality” by providing Pulse recognition information on 14 female drivers to a good friend so they might see the women’ profile pictures on Facebook.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford enforced a sentence of 9 months on Flanagan (41) of Ennis, Co Clare, to run consecutively to the seven-year term Flanagan got in July 2025 for prompting complete strangers to rape a female coworker.

Comerford stated it was a “extremely major offense for Flanagan to reveal Pulse details throughout the course of his responsibilities” in between January and September 2020 to his pal Colm Meere (45) of Knockanean, Tulla Road, Ennis.

The judge stated “a Garda’s function is to secure society and females in society” however Flanagan had actually participated in “repetitive criminality” in offering the Pulse information on the ladies worried.

He enforced a 14-month suspended jail term on married dad of 2 Meere, who pleaded guilty to prompting Flanagan to provide the unauthorised Pulse information.

Flanagan– appearing in court through video-link from the Midlands Prison– and Meere had actually pleaded guilty to sample counts worrying the unauthorised disclosure of Pulse information on 14 female vehicle drivers in between January and September 2020.

Comerford stated Meere had actually participated in “weird” behaviour in looking for the details so he might see the Facebook profile pictures, which the situations around the angering “brings a level of disgrace and embarassment”.

Throughout the garda interview, Meere stated: “I have a spouse and kids and undoubtedly I must not have actually been doing what I was doing.”

He informed gardaí that it was “foolish, male, egotistical behaviour”.

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The judge stated there was no proof of Meere reaching the ladies online, making Facebook pal demands or seeking them out.

He stated a disconcerting function of the case was that the garda from whom Meere acquired the Pulse information “was somebody who devoted some really ominous and compulsive offenses of a sexual nature” that he was sentenced for in 2015.

The judge stated there was no proof before the court that Meere understood anything about Flanagan’s more severe upseting.

Insp Paul English informed the court that the unauthorised Pulse information offenses emerged as part of the different Garda examination into Flanagan prompting others to rape a coworker.

The examination included the seizure of Flanagan’s cellphone, on which were 2,212 screenshots of Pulse records.

The Garda examination exposed chats in between then Garda Flanagan and Meere which revealed Meere over a nine-month duration making demands to get the names of signed up owners of cars and trucks driven by women he had actually seen at various areas, based upon their registration plates.

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Meere’s spouse remained in court to hear the State set out the information of the case.

In one exchange in between Flanagan and Meere, one female cars and truck owner is explained by Meere as “a blonde from Feakle and a cracker”.

In another exchange, Meere, after seeing a profile image on Facebook of a female motorist, stated “her profile image isn’t too worn-out– like her trousers were painted onto her”.

In reaction, Flanagan stated: “She has some arse on her now to be reasonable. She is an instructor now.” In reaction Meere texted back, “she can teach me anything she wishes to teach me”.

Counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford, stated none of the ladies wanted to make a victim effect declaration.

Counsel for Flanagan, Mark Nicholas, informed the court that the 2 pals had actually participated in “ridiculous, absurd, incorrect, laddish type behaviour”. He stated it was “entirely, entirely improper”.

Counsel for Meere, Patrick Whyms (advised by lawyer, Daragh Hassett) stated his customer was “surprised, embarrassed and horrified at his behaviour”.

Comerford enforced a different suspended 18-month jail term on Meere after he pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking offense, where on April 14th, 2022, he had in his ownership at Henry Street Garda station, Limerick, a tick list, bag sealant, tin foil, scissors, baggies and a smart phone.