Courts / Dublin / Report

Assault accused claims garda attacked him with clip-on tie

Summary

Stephen Tuohey, aged 25, is accused of assaulting Garda John Santry in a Blanchardstown Garda Station cell on 25 June 2011. He pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The prosecution's main evidence is a few seconds of CCTV footage from the hallway outside the cell, showing Tuohey becoming aggressive because he could not have his own clothes and was returned to the cell for safety. The defence argues the footage shows Santry becoming aggressive, "getting up in his face," before throwing Tuohey into the cell and beating him. Santry, acting as jailer that morning, claims he checked on Tuohey, who was banging the cell door and covering the hatch. He says Tuohey lunged at him, spat, kicked and punched, and that Santry was forced to restrain him. Santry reports minor injuries and denies assault, stating the CCTV lacked audio. The trial will conclude before Judge Petria McDonnell and a jury.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Assault accused claims garda attacked him with clip-on tie. Charges or matters: assaulting a peace officer in Blanchardstown Garda Station on the morning of June 25, 2011. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• June 25, 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2016-02-03 Publication

Why: The prosecution maintains the footage shows Mr Tuohey becoming aggressive towards the garda because he couldn't have his own clothes and Gda Santry putting him back in his cell for safety reasons. Prosecution account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report