Irish civil servant Yevgen McKeeffe to face Special Criminal Court over alleged state data leaks

A Ukrainian-born Irish civil servant faces trial in the non-jury Special Criminal Court over alleged leaks of sensitive government data to a hostile foreign power.

Ukrainian-born civil servant to face non-jury trial over alleged government data leaks to hostile state

A Ukrainian-born Irish civil servant accused of passing sensitive government information to a hostile foreign power will face trial in the non-jury Special Criminal Court, Google News IE — Crime (en) reports.

Yevgen McKeeffe (46), who holds Irish citizenship and has lived in Ireland for 24 years, was arrested on 28 May in the departures area of Dublin Airport. He was carrying €5,650 in cash and a one-way ticket, and was reportedly about to board a flight to Turkey before proceeding to meet a contact abroad.

The Garda Special Detective Unit (SDU) has charged him with four offences spanning the period between 11 July 2025 and 28 May of this year.

Four charges including Official Secrets Act breaches

The first charge is brought under section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018, for unlawfully disclosing confidential information from a specific government department — which cannot be named for legal reasons. McKeeffe also faces a charge of breaching the Data Protection Act, and two separate counts under the Official Secrets Act: one for retaining official data from that same department, and another for communicating information prejudicial to the safety and preservation of the State to another person.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) directed on Wednesday that the case proceed on indictment at a higher level. The DPP further specified that the trial would be held before the Special Criminal Court — a venue that ordinarily hears terrorism- or organised crime-related cases. At Cloverhill District Court on Friday, Judge Patricia Cronin recorded that the ordinary courts were not suitable for the case.

McKeeffe appeared before the court via video link. He has been held on remand since 30 May, when bail was denied, and was remanded in continuing custody to appear again at Cloverhill District Court on 25 September.

Prosecution warns of delays; defence presses for speed

State solicitor Mark Donnelly pointed to the "uniqueness" of the case when cautioning that the matter may not be ready to proceed on the next court date. The prosecution must first serve McKeeffe with a book of evidence before he can be returned for trial.

Defence counsel Fiachra Treacy highlighted the delays to date and noted that his client had already spent three months in custody. Treacy called on prosecutors to expedite the matter. Given the nature of the case, any fresh bail application can only be heard by the High Court.

Intelligence-led investigation and alleged Telegram communications

Detective Sergeant Shay Palmer of the SDU told an earlier bail hearing in June that investigators opened an intelligence-led inquiry that identified McKeeffe as he prepared to depart the country. Palmer said the accused had been in his most recent position since 2022, and had previously worked in another government department for six years. He remains suspended from his post pending the outcome of the case.

It was alleged that McKeeffe's intended journey would ultimately take him to a location where he would meet a contact and share confidential information that "had the potential of creating risk to the Irish State."

Gardaí seized electronic devices and documents during a search of his home, and also examined his workplace, where his desktop computer was taken. According to evidence heard at the bail hearing, McKeeffe sent information — in the form of documents, photographs or videos — to a "handler" in a foreign jurisdiction via the Telegram messaging application on his mobile phone.

Detective Sergeant Palmer said McKeeffe received payments in a foreign currency equivalent to approximately €250–€260 per transfer, lodged into his mother's bank account. Given the nature of the country involved, gardaí said it was not possible to establish whether further payments were made within that jurisdiction.

Background: name changes and travel documents

McKeeffe came to Ireland in 2002 and progressed to citizenship. He changed his name to a more Irish-sounding one by deed poll. The court heard he had used four other name variations and held an Irish passport alongside two non-Irish travel documents. Gardaí raised significant flight risk concerns, noting that he had previously travelled abroad in 2025 under his current name but had used a different name on an earlier flight.

Defence counsel said McKeeffe had substantial ties to Ireland, including his employment, a mortgage on his home, and a social network of friends. He came to Ireland originally because he was homosexual and had faced discrimination beforehand, the court heard.

McKeeffe had signed the Official Secrets Act upon commencing his civil service employment. He denies all allegations against him.

Reporting restrictions remain in place, barring the publication of McKeeffe's Dublin address, the specific government department where he worked, the foreign country involved, and the nature of the information allegedly disclosed.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)