A GARDA told his superior officer a woman who is suing him for damages over an alleged sexual assault and wrongful imprisonment was “a psychiatric case” and “drunk” on the night of the alleged incident, the High Court was told yesterday.
Antoinette Canty (30), a hairdresser, of The Causeway, Tralee, Co Kerry, has sued the Minister for Justice, the Attorney General, the Garda Commissioner and Garda Thomas Noonan over an alleged assault on the night of March 16th/17th, 2001.
She has claimed that, after agreeing to take her home in a patrol car in the early hours of March 17th, 2001, Garda Noonan put his hand on her upper thigh and was trying to get “on her” in a sexual way. She claims she kicked him to get him off her and believed he was going to rape or kill her.
It is alleged the incident occurred near her then home at Ahabeg, Lixnaw, Listowel, after she had consumed alcohol and attended a disco at a nightclub in the town. The defendants have denied the claims.
Sgt Helen Regan, Listowel Garda station, said in evidence yesterday she had spoken to Garda Noonan in her office the day after the alleged incident.
She said Garda Noonan had said a woman was looking for a taxi and there were none around. He described the woman as a psychiatric case and drunk, and said he decided to bring her to the Garda station. Sgt Regan said she asked the garda who the woman was and he said she would not say. When she asked him why he had not arrested her, he said the woman was more of a psychiatric case and needed help, so he brought her to the Garda station.
Sgt Regan said Garda Noonan said he believed the woman had a problem, and that was why he was trying to help her. He said he drove around Listowel looking for a taxi but could not find one, and then decided to go back to the Garda station with her.
He had said he arrived at the back gate of the station where there was a gate with a key code to open it. He said the woman was in the front passenger seat, and that she did not want to enter.
Sgt Regan said he said he activated the patrol car central locking, at which stage the woman went “crazy” and kicked the windscreen. He said he had leaned in to restrain her and then went to key in the gate code. As he did so, she got out of the car and ran.
Sgt Regan said Garda Noonan said he went looking for the woman with another garda, but they could not find her. When she asked him why he had activated the central locking and locked somebody in, he had replied it was for her own safety to bring her into the station. She asked him for a report on the incident.
Garda Noonan had said the woman came to his attention earlier that night in relation to questions from nightclub bouncers and a taxi driver.
Sgt Regan said she met Garda Noonan on March 29th, 2001, when he said he believed he was the subject of a complaint by a female concerning a sexual assault, and he was upset about it.
The hearing before Mr Justice Iarfhlaith Ó Neill continues today.