A MAN has claimed before the High Court that his arm was broken when gardaí used excessive force to arrest and handcuff him during a disturbance outside a nightclub in which, he alleges, he was not involved.
Brendan Lackey (34), a bakery worker from Ballina, Mayo, claims his injury was the result of unreasonable and excessive force by gardaí when they allegedly unlawfully arrested him outside the Pulse Nightclub in Ballina on January 6th, 2002. In a separate incident about three months later, Mr Lackey claims he was also unlawfully arrested and detained by different gardaí after leaving the same nightclub.
He is seeking damages from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Ireland and the Attorney General. The defendants deny the claims.
The case is before Mr Justice Éamon de Valera.