Courts / Dublin / Report

Family friend of soldier accused of assaulting gardai tells jury that officers could have "handled the situation a lot better"

Summary

During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a family friend of the accused, Naoise O'Conarain, testified that the Gardaí could have handled the situation better. He was present in the bathroom where an earlier altercation between O'Conarain and his brother had been diffused when two Gardaí entered unannounced. He told the judge that the officers should have learned of the situation before confronting O'Conarain. He also said he did not see O'Conarain punch a Garda, though he witnessed a struggle in which a Garda was struck on the head with a torch butt. He denied hearing any mention of a razor in the video footage. The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of four women and eight men. The accused has pleaded not guilty to assaulting two Gardaí. The jury was directed to find him not guilty of assaulting three other Gardaí due to insufficient evidence. The case remains ongoing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Family friend of soldier accused of assaulting gardai tells jury that officers could have "handled the situation a lot better". Charges or matters: assaulting Gdi Andrew Quinn and Fiachra Molloy causing them harm at his Redwood Lawn, Kilnamanagh home in Tallaght on March 10, 2013. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• March 10, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2014-10-29 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial

Related court reports

• Pair jailed for preying on innocent shooting victim in 'vicious extortion racket'
• 'Fun loving' drug dealer jailed over possession of €90k in crime cash
• 'I'm doing my job as a mum': court hears exchange between mother and accused son
• Separated husband spared conviction despite alleged threat to throw former wife out window
• Serial criminal set car ablaze after release from Melanie McCarthy-McNamara manslaughter sentence
• Drug dealer further sentenced for 'crudely' laundering own crime cash

Read the original CNI report