Gardaí fined for assaulting man who was filming row

TWO gardaí were convicted yesterday for assaulting a man who was filming a disturbance at a pub in Dublin.

The two members, Gavin Keegan and Damien Kildea, were both fined for assaulting Eoin Lawless outside the Cat & Cage Pub in Drumcondra, north Dublin, on June 28, 2008.

Mr Lawless was filming a disturbance at the pub, during which the two gardaí assaulted him. Garda Keegan then took his camera, deleting the images he had taken.

The two gardaí were charged under Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act 1997. They appeared before Richmond District Court yesterday.

Judge Patrick Clyne said he accepted Mr Lawless’s evidence and said the gardaí had acted illegally.

Garda Keegan, 28, based at Mountjoy Garda Station, was fined €650 for assaulting Mr Lawless and ordered to pay €500 in compensation. He was also convicted of criminal damage under Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act 1991. He was fined €200 for this offence.

Garda Kildea, 25, based at Store Street Garda Station, was fined €500 for assaulting Mr Lawless and ordered to pay €500 in compensation.

Garda Keegan was given five months to pay his fine and Garda Kildea was granted three months to pay.

The incident stemmed from a row at the pub during which gardaí were called to the scene. They attempted to bring the disturbance under control, which was being filmed by Mr Lawless. The two officersassaulted him and Garda Keegan deleted the images from his mobile phone.

Mr Lawless made a complaint to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), which launched an investigation.

A spokesman for GSOC said it “respected the court’s decision”.

The gardaí are understood to be considering an appeal.