Woman tells court she was strip-searched in Garda station

Gardaí in Castlebar station ordered a woman to strip to her underwear to be searched, shouted, abused and subjected her to "the foulest of language", before a detective sergeant ordered her to "sign the fucking statement", the woman has claimed before the High Court.

Ms Margaret McGreal has since been charged with larceny of €582 goods/money from a children's clothes shop in Castlebar, Co Mayo, operated by Ms Bernie Doyle, wife of Supt Patrick Doyle. She denies the charge.

In an affidavit, Ms McGreal said that, in the weeks after her arrest on October 25th, 2002, she had received through the post anonymous material "which greatly upset and embarrassed me".

This included a poster stating: "Remember, Thou Shalt Not Steal" and a Christmas card with the words: "Thief, don't walk around Castlebar with your head so high, everyone is talking about you." Ms McGreal said she failed to understand how her arrest could have been known, as no one other than family members had been told.

She completely withdrew from family life as she could not face the trauma of going out.

She was horrified when her husband told her €30,000 had been claimed by Supt Doyle "as being representative of the amount I was supposed to have stolen from his wife's shop, payment of which he demanded, failing which he would ensure a prosecution with no holds barred would be initiated".

Ms McGreal continued: "I was traumatised by virtue of this demand both in terms of the amount claimed and equally by reason of the fact that it was Patrick Doyle, using his position as a superintendent in the gardaí to wrongfully gain payment for something which was not due.

"I could not, nor indeed did I, misappropriate from Bernie Doyle the sum of €30,000 and in fact when one considers that I only worked part-time, it puts into context the near impossibility to have engaged in and achieved what was alleged by Patrick Doyle."

She believed failure to pay the €30,000 sought "would be catastrophic". Ms McGreal said she had agonised over whether the sum should be paid as Supt Doyle had indicated that, upon payment, he would ensure there would be no prosecution.

Having taking all factors into account, not least the "campaign of vilification" which had been engaged in against herself and her family, Ms McGreal said she had decided "to succumb to the threats and demands made" and pay the €30,000.

However, she was served with summonses in September 2003. She had pleaded not guilty and had elected for trial by judge and jury, which was due to proceed next June 15th.

Mr Michael McGreal, said the strip-search of his wife was not recorded in the Garda custody record.

"I say, believe and respectfully submit that the conduct of Supt Doyle in these proceedings is a disgrace and can only but reflect adversely on the Garda Síochána as a whole."