A GARDA accused of “trying to kill” a suspect after a car chase through the city centre has gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Gda Gerard Curtis (23), Ardee, Co Louth, is said to have been part of a group of about 10 gardaí who allegedly smashed the window of the stolen car, dragged the suspect through it and kicked and beat him with their batons. The alleged victim also claimed gardaí refused to take him to hospital at his request.
Gda Curtis, who is stationed at Store Street Garda station, has pleaded not guilty to assault and assault causing harm to John Paul Maughan (19) on Alexandra Road in the Dublin Docks on July 11th, 2009.
Mr Maughan told Maurice Coffey, prosecuting, that he had been “on a session” in the city centre before the incident. He said he had been drinking and taking pills, heroin and cocaine throughout the day.
He said he and his friend, Gary Henry, stole a set of car keys from a drunk man they met in the street. They got into the car and drove off before they “took a chase.” He described around 10 Garda cars chasing them and said his friend was driving at full speed down the quays. They reached the docks and Mr Henry crashed the car after performing a handbrake turn to avoid going into the water.
Mr Maughan said gardaí surrounded the car before the passenger window was smashed with a baton and he was pulled through. He said he told the gardaí to relax and then put out his arms so he could be handcuffed.
He claimed the group of gardaí ignored him and started to hit him with their batons and kick him, leaving him with cuts and bruises over his body.
He said they then pulled him up and handcuffed him before kicking him again and putting him in a garda van. He said he could not identify any of his alleged attackers.
Mr Maughan denied under cross-examination that they had stolen the car keys at knife point. He told Breffni Gordon, defending, that during the chase the gardaí “were trying to ram us, trying to kill us.” He said that during the assault the gardaí were “treating us like dogs” and “trying to kill us.” He agreed with counsel that he had a “long list of convictions” and was currently in custody awaiting trial for a street mugging. He admitted to several of the offences put to him by Mr Gordon but denied ever being convicted for carrying a knife.
The trial continues before Judge Donagh McDonagh and a jury of nine women and three men.