Three gardaí to face charges over incident in apartment complex

THREE GARDAÍ are to be criminally charged in relation to an incident in a Dublin apartment complex where a man claimed a group of gardaí beat him with their batons after falsely imprisoning him.

The man complained to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and four members of garda rank were immediately suspended from duty pending the outcome of the commission’s investigation.

It is the first major case opened by the commission involving the suspension of members of An Garda Síochána.

The gardaí at the centre of the case and the complainant and some of his family members have been interviewed in recent months about the allegations.

Based on the results of the investigation, a file was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The Irish Timesunderstands the DPP has now directed that three of the gardaí involved are to face criminal charges. It is understood the charges are of alleged assault.

The alleged incident took place at the Basin Street apartments in Dublin’s south inner city on Sunday, February 17th last.

A group of gardaí called to a dwelling in the flats complex and the victim has alleged he was falsely imprisoned and assaulted by the group. It is alleged the gardaí used considerable force and drew their batons during the incident.

The complainant’s family members were at the property at the time and it is understood some of the alleged assault may have been witnessed by the victim’s family.

The complainant is believed to have been involved in a row with a member of the force on the night of Saturday, February 16th, the day before the alleged group beating took place.

The man has claimed that the alleged attack on him was linked to the earlier altercation.

Three of the gardaí at the centre of the allegations are from Kilmainham Garda station while the fourth is based at Kevin Street Garda station.

A spokesman for the ombudsman commission confirmed an investigation had been carried out into an alleged incident in Basin Street. He said the complainant and the Garda had been updated on the latest developments in the case.

The spokesman declined to elaborate on the nature of those developments.

However, reliable sources confirmed three of the four gardaí at the centre of the case are to face criminal charges of assault.

It is unclear when the charges will be formally put to the gardaí involved. It is also unclear when the case will go to court.