Garda sergeant ‘pretended to be member of public’

A GARDA sergeant from outside the Kerry district pretended to be a member of the public when she handed in a black purse containing cash and a headache tablet to a garda on duty in Killarney Garda Station, the Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee heard yesterday.

Sergeant Mary O’Shaughnessy, of Mayorstone station, Limerick, was giving evidence on the first day of the trial of Killarney- based garda Michael Fitzgerald at the Circuit Criminal Court, in Tralee.

Garda Fitzgerald has denied stealing €190.18 and a Panadol tablet, the property of Mary O’Shaughnessy at the Garda Station, New Road, Killarney, between August 6, 2003 and September 16, 2003.

Sgt O’Shaughnessy told the court she had received the purse from Sgt Declan Liddane, of Tralee, after meeting him in a car park opposite the Killarney Garda Station at about 7.30pm.

The purse and its contents had earlier been given to Sgt Liddane, who is attached to the divisional drugs unit, by Garda Inspector Barry O’Rourke,stationed in Tralee at the time.

Judge Carroll Moran and a jury heard the black, imitation crocodile purse had been marked by the inspector.

In evidence, Sgt O’Shaughnessy, who had travelled from Limerick in her private car, on August 6, said there was very little activity in the Garda station when she entered at around 8pm. She was casually dressed.

Only one garda, a grey haired man in his 50s with a moustache, was on duty in the public office. He opened the hatch and she laid the purse on the counter explaining she had found it in a car park.

She asked him if he would take care of it and turned to go. He called her back to ask her which car park she had found it in.

Cross-examined by defending counsel Anthony Sammon, SC, Sgt O’Shaughnessy agreed it was an “untruth” to say she had found the purse in a car park.

Inspector O’Rourke gave evidence that the station held three different record books, including a property book for property handed in by members of the public, an occurrence book for recording incidents and a property receipt book.

An entry in the occurrence book for the date in question said a black crocodile purse was found in the Killarney area and was in the possession of Garda MP Fitzgerald.

Cross examined by Mr Sammon, Inspector O’Rourke denied telling Garda Fitzgerald he had a warrant to search his residence. He also denied bullying him by threatening him with the search of his house.

The trial continues today.