Courts / Tipperary / Report
Jury finds gardai falsely imprisoned wheelchair-bound woman in her home
Summary
A jury awarded €132,000 in damages to Catherine Houlihan, a 41‑year‑old wheelchair‑bound woman from Carrick on Suir, after finding that two Gardaí trespassed into her home on 2 August 2011 and falsely imprisoned her while questioning her about a missing iPhone. The Gardaí entered her house without a search warrant, searched her handbag and wheelchair without permission, and threatened to take her to Clonmel Garda Station if she did not admit to taking the phone. Houlihan denied taking the phone, which she claimed was stolen from a fast‑food restaurant earlier that day. The High Court judge, Mr Justice Colm MacEochaidh, heard the case over three days and, after deliberation, the jury concluded that her privacy had been breached, that she had been falsely imprisoned and that the Gardaí had trespassed without lawful authority. The jury awarded her €132,000 in damages, a decision that was stayed pending appeal.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jury finds gardai falsely imprisoned wheelchair-bound woman in her home. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- August 2nd, 2011 Other
- 2016-02-05 Publication
Case subjects
Applicant
Places mentioned
- St John's Terrace
- Carrick on Suir
- take her to Clonmel Garda Station
- Clonmel
- High Court
Topics
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