Courts / Dublin / Report
Garda denies sex assault investigation was "rank with incompetence"
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Donal Geoghegan, aged 37, pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a bar woman on 21 November 2015. On the third day of trial, defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC cross‑examined Sergeant Joanne McCormack, the investigating officer. McCormack had reviewed CCTV footage showing an unidentified man, referred to as "Mr X", engaging in tactile behaviour with several women, including placing hands on arms and hair, patting a head and approaching a fourth woman's arm. She stated that Mr X's conduct could be assault but not sexual assault, and that no complaints were made against him. O'Higgins suggested that treating Mr X as a person of interest would expose the investigation as incompetent. McCormack denied this, asserting the investigation was professional and that she had not considered Mr X a suspect.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Garda denies sex assault investigation was "rank with incompetence". Charges or matters: sexually assaulting the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in a city centre late night bar on November 21, 2015. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- November 21, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-12-16 Publication
Why: She said she didn't regard "Mr X" as a suspect because nobody had made a complaint against him. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: sexually assaulting the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in a city centre late night bar on November 21, 2015 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
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