Conman cop rumbled by real-life detective

A man who bought a Garda hat and flashing blue lights on eBay before impersonating a member of the force, tackled four youths in a Galway shopping centre over a supermarket trolley they were pulling around the forecourt.

Unfortunately for Harley Bradley, a genuine Garda detective also happened to be at Westside Shopping Centre as the drama unfolded – and when Bradley told Padraig Healy that he was stationed in Oranmore, he wasn’t to know that Det Healy was actually based at that same station.

Bradley (27), from 24 Riverside, Grange, Ballina, admitted a number of offences at Galway District Court this week when Judge John King described him as a fantasist who had gone around saying he was a Garda, while driving without insurance and while already disqualified from driving.

Bradley pleaded guilty to impersonating a member of An Garda Siochana at Maxol Petrol Station, Westside Shopping Centre, Galway, on October 28 last year, contrary to Section 60 (1) (a) of the Garda Siochana Act 2005.

He also pleaded guilty to having no insurance or driving licence on the same date.

The court heard Detective Padraig Healy pulled into the Maxol filling station at 9pm on October 28 last year.

He observed four youths pulling a trolley around the forecourt. He then saw the driver of a blue Ford Mondeo activate a blue light on the dashboard before telling the youths to leave the trolley back.

Det. Healy approached the driver who told him he was a member of An Garda Siochana, stationed in Oranmore. Det. Healy, who is stationed in Oranmore, did not recognise him.

When questioned, Bradley gave him a false name but then admitted he was not a Garda at all. He apologised to Det. Healy and said he would be on his way.

Det. Healy became suspicious and asked him for his identification before seizing the Ford Mondeo.

He soon discovered Bradley did not have insurance or a driving licence because he was already disqualified from driving.

Det. Healy searched the car and found a Garda hat in the boot. Bradley said he had bought the hat and flashing blue lights on eBay.

He told Det. Healy he approached the youths because he wanted to move them on and not be messing with the trolley as he was employed by Dunnes Stores.

Sergeant Georgina Lohan, prosecuting, confirmed Bradley had three previous convictions. The first was recorded at Castlebar District Court in November 2016 for using a false instrument.

He had also been convicted of dangerous driving and driving without insurance and had been disqualified from driving for two years at the time of this latest offence.

Defence solicitor, John Martin said his client was an assistant retail manager who worked a lot in Galway and he wanted to apologise for his actions.

He said Bradley worked for the last five years with his current employers and was a father-figure to his younger siblings.

He said his client had bought the Garda hat for a Hallowe’en party.

He said Bradley had activated the blue dash lights when he saw what the youths were doing but there was no real reason why he would have the lights in the first place.

Mr Martin said his client had stopped driving altogether and was now getting the bus between Galway and Mayo to see his partner and child there.

Judge King said Bradley had been driving while disqualified and that having Garda paraphernalia in his car did not make any sense.

Hearing the maximum penalties for impersonating a Garda was a fine of €3,000 and/or twelve months in prison, the judge sentenced Bradley to two months in prison for that offence which he suspended for two years.

He directed Bradley carry out 100 hours’ community service in lieu of six weeks in prison for driving without insurance and directed he carry out a further 100 hour’s community service in lieu of a two- month consecutive sentence for driving without a licence.

“He is representing himself as a Garda and driving around without insurance.  I have serious concerns for someone going around saying he is a Garda. He’s a fantasist,” the judge observed.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and  county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.