Gardaí are not entitled to “hand out punishment to people there and then as they see fit”, the jury in an assault trial has been told.
The comment was made by Michael Delaney SC, for the State, who is leading the prosecution of four gardaí on trial in relation to incidents in Waterford last year.
Sgt Alan Kissane, Sgt Martha McEnery and Garda Daniel Hickey all deny assaulting Anthony Holness (38) causing him harm, while Garda John Burke denies acting with intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of another and acting in a manner tending and intended to pervert the course of justice.
The Waterford-based gardaí are alleged to have committed the offences at New Street in the city at about 3am on January 29th of last year.
Mr Delaney said in his closing speech today that CCTV footage shown to the jury showed Garda Hickey punching Mr Holness on the back of the head three times when he was lying on the ground after being pepper-sprayed, and also kicking him from the side.
The footage also showed Sgt McEnery crouching beside Mr Holness and striking him at least six times, he said, while Sgt Kissane placed his foot on the back of Mr Holness's head and neck.
Mr Delaney said Garda Burke had directed a camera away from the assault as it was happening, making the footage shown to the jury incomplete.
There was "no doubt" that Anthony Holness had behaved in an "objectionable" manner after Gda Hickey saw him urinating on the street, Mr Delaney said. "But the gardaí are not entitled to hand out punishment to people there and then as they see fit.
"It's for courts in this country to decide whether or not people are guilty or not guilty of an offence, and thereafter to hand down punishment. That's at the heart of our democracy."
Paul McDermott SC, for Garda Hickey, told the jury gardaí had the right to deal with violence when it happened.
"It's not a tea party," he said. "When it arises, it has to be dealt with. That doesn't mean that everything is done in an attractive manner. It's a rough game out there and you entrust men and women on your behalf, as we all do, to go out and deal with lawlessness on the street."
In this case, there was "a very serious challenge to the exercise of lawful power" put up by Mr Holness after he was seen urinating on the street.
Closing arguments on behalf of the other three defendants will be heard tomorrow by Judge Leonie Reynolds and the jury.