A TAXI driver has claimed he was defamed, assaulted and wrongfully imprisoned by gardaí who arrested him after finding him smoking a cigar allegedly while at his place of work in his cab.
Edward O’Neill, St Attracta Road, Cabra, Dublin, in a €38,000 action for damages, claims he was not working while having a smoke.
Barrister John Nolan told Judge Gerald Keys that Mr O’Neill admitted to driving his taxi on O’Connell Street on October 15th, 2008, and smoking when stopped by gardaí.
Mr Nolan said his client had been accused of being a smart alec. At traffic lights a garda got out of an unmarked car and told him: “If you are going to be a prick, then I will be a bigger prick.”
Mr O’Neill claimed he had been dragged from his car, slammed up against it and handcuffed. Garda Colum Barron had been found by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to be in breach of discipline. Judge Keys granted discovery to Mr O’Neill of statements made to the commission.