A Garda detective inspector has told the High Court that two brothers who allege they were libelled in a newspaper article have a "notorious" reputation among gardaí who believe them to be "serious criminals".
Alan and Wayne Bradley are feared in an area of west Dublin, Det Insp Brendan Sherry, of Blanchardstown Garda station, said.
Cross-examined by Paul O'Higgins SC, for Alan and Wayne Bradley, Insp Sherry agreed that neither brother has ever been charged with or convicted of offences of armed robbery, money laundering, murder, violence, intimidation or drugs.
He was giving evidence on behalf of the Star Sunday newspaper on the third day of the action by Alan Bradley (32), Churchfield, Kentstown, Co Meath and Wayne Bradley (27), Cherryfield Lawn, Clonsilla, against Independent Star Ltd, Terenure Road North, Dublin, publishers of the Star Sunday, arising from an article in the newspaper of June 13th, 2004.
The brothers claim the article under the headline "Inside Gangland - Brothers In Arms" meant they were the leaders of the most dangerous criminal gang operating in Dublin's underworld and had made €4 million out of the proceeds of cash in transit robberies, gun crime and money laundering.
The article extended over two pages and was accompanied by photographs with the faces blanked out and captioned: "The Fat Heads. Pictured this week by Star Sunday, the brothers aged 25 and 31 are responsible for a series of lucrative armed raids over the past four years." Other headlines stated: "Siblings leading the underworld's most dangerous armed gang".
The newspaper denies libel and pleads the brothers are not identified in the article and not defamed by the article.
Insp Sherry, with responsibility for the area covering Blanchardstown, Finglas and Cabra, told the jury his portfolio, on appointment to his position in 2002, was to tackle serious crime in the area. He said Alan Bradley was known locally as "Fat Puss" but he had never heard the nickname "Fat Head" in relation to Alan Bradley.
Asked by Eoin McCullough SC, for the defence, about the reputation of the Bradley brothers in the local community, he said that, in his own experience, the Bradleys are known for being involved in crime in the area and are feared in the area.
"Their reputation is that they are involved in serious crime," Insp Sherry said. The brothers, he added, have a notorious reputation within the Garda force and are believed to be serious criminals involved in armed robberies and the "wholesale distribution of heavy duty drugs".
The hearing continues on Tuesday.