A FEMALE garda on temporary transfer to help police the annual Puck Fair festival in Killorglin, Co Kerry, told the Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee yesterday she was assaulted sexually and physically while she tried to arrest a man under public order legislation.
The alleged assaults took place close to the door of the Garda station, after the garda had been called to an incident in a pub in the early hours when thousands were on the streets.
The garda, who cannot be named, had been transferred to Killorglin temporarily during the festival and was on patrol with another garda at the time of the alleged assault in the early hours of August 13th, 2008.
Cyril Moriarty (53), Tulligbeg, Killorglin, a married man with a family, has denied sexually assaulting the garda.
He has also denied assault causing harm and he has denied resisting and obstructing a garda.
The garda said her rings were covered in blood from injuries to her hands following the alleged assaults.
She said the defendant, who was “manic” at the time, had grabbed her in the vaginal area and would not let go, despite the efforts of bouncers who came to her assistance.
“I was horrified someone would do that to me,” she told prosecutor Tom Rice.
Defence counsel Brian McInerney put it to her she had not been sexually assaulted. She said she would love to agree with him, but had had to live with it for three years.
The case continues.