Garda quizzed over sex assault allegation

A GARDA was arrested and questioned this weekend over allegations he sexually assaulted a colleague.

The allegation is one of two separate claims of garda misconduct which are currently under investigation.

The male garda was arrested on Saturday and taken to Togher Garda Station in Cork City for questioning following claims he assaulted a female colleague at a house party in Cork approximately two weeks ago.

A garda spokesperson said yesterday he was held for six hours under Section Four of the Criminal Justice Act before being released without charge.

The spokesperson confirmed the garda had been suspended from duty during this time, but was re-instated at the end of the period of arrest. A file is being prepared for the DPP.

According to the spokesperson, both parties to the incident are “based in the southern region”.

The assault is alleged to have happened after a group returned from a nightclub to a house party on the southside of Cork city.

Meanwhile, an investigation is underway into claims a Co Meath couple were assaulted by gardaí at the entrance to the Coombe Maternity Hospital in Dublin, while the woman was in labour with her fourth child.

Yesterday a garda spokesperson confirmed “a complaint has been made about that matter”, to An Garda Síochána Complaints Board and the Garda Commissioner. According to a report in the Sunday Business Post, Sean and Jillian Ryan were pulled over by gardaí as their jeep arrived at the entrance to the Coombe. The couple had made the 25-mile journey from their home to the hospital without incident, but as they approached the Coombe, Mr Ryan, a builder, overshot the entrance and stopped to reverse the jeep.

According to the couple, they found themselves surrounded by garda vehicles.

It is alleged Mr Ryan was pulled from the jeep and without warning, beaten with batons, despite cries from his distressed wife, pleading with gardaí to get her to the hospital.

While a garda spokesperson declined to elaborate on the incident, it is understood the Ryans came to garda attention while driving at speed through the Phoenix Park and breaking red lights. There is a suggestion gardaí may have believed the vehicle was stolen or fleeing a crime scene.

After the jeep was halted outside the Coombe, Mr Ryan was taken to a nearby garda station at Kevin St and detained for questioning before being released without charge.