Courts / Dublin / Report

Jury told to find soldier not guilty of assaulting three gardai due to insufficient evidence

Date
2014-10-28

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 22‑year‑old Naoise O'Conarain pleaded not guilty to assaulting Gardaí Andrew Quinn and Fiachra Molloy, claiming they caused him harm at his home on 10 March 2013. He also faced charges of assaulting Gardaí Ross Foy, Kevin Keane and Simon Butler on the same date, but the judge ruled that insufficient evidence existed to convict him on those four counts. The trial featured testimony from his mother, Olga Howlett, who alleged that the Gardaí behaved disrespectfully, used pepper spray, and physically assaulted her son in the bathroom. She described a chaotic scene with her son's drunkenness and the Gardaí's conduct. The case remains pending before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of four women and eight men.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury told to find soldier not guilty of assaulting three gardai due to insufficient evidence. Charges or matters: assaulting gardaí Andrew Quinn and Fiachra Molloy causing them harm at his home on March 10, 2013. Procedural stage: trial

When:

March 10, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
2014-10-28 Publication

Why: " Miss Howlett told the court that there were mainly family members in the house and that there was no music because she was able to sleep. CNI source report