Jury finds Garda superintendent used reasonable force in baton strike

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

A High Court jury found that Detective Superintendent Rory Sheriff used reasonable force when arresting former garda John Bowe after a high-speed chase near Bunclody, Co Wexford, in 2014. The majority verdict followed four and a half hours of deliberations in the second civil trial; a jury in the first trial was discharged after failing to reach a decision.

Bowe had sued Sheriff and other defendants, alleging that the baton strike caused injuries and that Sheriff wrongfully used force. Sheriff accepted that he struck Bowe but maintained that his actions were justified. The judge awarded costs to Sheriff’s legal team for both trials, but stayed the award pending any appeal.