Dublin civil servant charged with leaking data to foreign intelligence service

Yevgen McKeeffe, 45, was arrested at Dublin Airport attempting to leave Ireland with a one-way ticket. He is remanded in custody pending DPP directions.

Dublin civil servant held in custody over foreign espionage charges

A Dublin-based civil servant has been remanded in custody after being charged with leaking confidential Government information to a foreign intelligence agency, the Irish Times reports.

Yevgen McKeeffe (45), originally from Ukraine and holding Irish citizenship, was arrested at the departures area of Dublin Airport last Thursday as he attempted to leave the country. He was carrying €5,650 in cash and a one-way ticket.

McKeeffe appeared at Cloverhill District Court on Tuesday for his second hearing, having been refused bail following his initial court appearance on Saturday. The case arose from an investigation by the Garda Special Detective Unit (SDU).

Defence barrister Aisling Ginger-Quinn told Judge Alan Mitchell the matter was listed for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and that a High Court bail application was "in progress." Court Garda Sgt Olwyn Murphy requested a four-week remand in continuing custody, to which the defence consented.

Judge Mitchell told McKeeffe he would appear again via video-link on 30 June, unless bail had been granted in the meantime, in which case he would be required to appear in person. McKeeffe spoke briefly during the proceedings — first to confirm his name, and at the close of the hearing said: "Okay. Thank you."

McKeeffe is charged under section 9 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act for the unlawful use of a computer in the course of his employment. A conviction on that charge carries a maximum sentence of ten years. Further charges under the Official Secrets Act are also possible, according to Detective Sergeant Shay Palmer.

Palmer told the court that an intelligence-led investigation was launched approximately one week ago into the accused, who had worked in an information management technology section of a Government department, having previously been in the IT section. He had worked on the department's website and an online portal.

The accused allegedly obtained or transferred official department data "and supplied them to a foreign intelligence service for personal gain," Palmer said. Payments in a foreign currency equivalent to approximately €250 were made to McKeeffe for his efforts and were deposited into his mother's bank account.

At his original hearing, the court was told McKeeffe was allegedly about to leave the State to meet a contact and hand over sensitive information that would place the State at risk. Det Sgt Palmer noted that McKeeffe "made no reply" when the charge was put to him.

Reporting restrictions are in place preventing the publication of McKeeffe's Dublin address, the specific Government department in which he was employed, and the identity of the overseas country implicated in the case. The media was permitted to name the accused. He has not yet indicated a plea.

Source: Irish Times