A GARDA kicked and punched an arrested man, welcomed him to Ireland and told him that he was “not in Poland now”, according to a Garda colleague giving evidence during an assault hearing yesterday.
Garda Tom McKenna,based at Waterford Garda Station pleaded not guilty at the District Court yesterday when charged with the assault of Bartlomej Skwirut (33) on June 20th of last year.
The court heard that Mr Skwirut, a truck driver who is originally from Poland, was arrested with his friend, Tomasz Sikora (34).
Both men had been drinking at The Woodlands Hotel on the outskirts of the city and were arrested on a public order matter. The men had been living together at an address in New Ross, Co Wexford.
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, investigated the matter. Charges were brought against Garda McKenna by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr McKenna is alleged to have kicked Mr Skwirut in the thigh, sat on him, knocked him to the ground and punched him into the head.
Through an interpreter Mr Skwirut said he was arrested after drinking “about five beers” and “one shot” of vodka.
Garda Caroline Lynch told the court she “saw the prisoner being pushed against the wall” and that after she responded to a “loud bang” coming from the custody area, she “observed the prisoner being hit by Garda McKenna”.
She said she heard Mr McKenna say to the man following his arrest: “Welcome to Ireland; you’re not in Poland now.”
Garda Paula Twiss, said Mr Skwirut was “very intoxicated and was shouting” when arrested. He had a “large” labelled bottle of vodka in his hand that “was more than half empty”. He was aggressive and shouting, the court heard. “A number of times I had to ask him to stand back … he shouted at me ‘Shut up!’ on a number of occasions.”
Judge David Kennedy adjourned the matter for a second day of evidence on December 19th.