Gardaí assault trial adjourned

THE TRIAL of four gardaí accused of assaulting a young Dublin man after breaking into his home has been adjourned until next Tuesday.

Tom O’Connell, prosecuting, made an application yesterday to adjourn the trial, saying an “important matter” had arisen in the case and he needed to receive further instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Lawyers for three of the accused expressed unhappiness at the proposed adjournment but Judge Desmond Hogan said he accepted the counsel would not have made the application unless there were serious and valid reasons for doing so. Judge Hogan acceded to the application, told the jury they should not read anything into it and sent them home.

Garda Seán O’Leary, Eoin Murtagh, Alan Conlon and Claire Delaney have pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to forcing entry to a Basin Street Upper premises, entering as trespassers and assaulting Owen Gaffney (21) causing him harm on February 17th, 2008.

Garda Murtagh, Conlon and Delaney have also pleaded not guilty to the false imprisonment of Fidelma Gaffney on the same occasion.