Four gardaí acquitted by a jury of assaulting a young man in a flat at Basin Street Upper in Dublin earlier this year have brought a High Court challenge to the conduct of internal Garda disciplinary proceedings against them.
Garda Alan Conlon, Garda Eoin Murtagh, Garda Claire Delaney and Garda Seán O’Leary were informed in October that a chief superintendent had been appointed by the Garda Commissioner to investigate alleged breaches of discipline by them, the High Court heard yesterday.
Garda Conlon, Garda Delaney and Garda Murtagh were also acquitted of false imprisonment of the young man’s mother, Fidelma Gaffney, on the same occasion.
The four claim that without being informed what matter was under investigation or given any details of the alleged breaches of discipline, they were directed to provide a report. They claim that is unfair and want an order quashing the direction. Leave to bring the challenge was granted on an ex parte basis (one side only represented) by Mr Justice Michael Peart who made the matter returnable to early next month.