Gardaí not entitled to hand out punishment as they see fit, jury told

GARDAÍ are not entitled to “hand out punishment to people there and then as they see fit”, the jury in an assault trial has been told.

The comment was made by Michael Delaney, prosecuting, in the case of four gardaí on trial in relation to incidents in Waterford last year.

Sergeant Alan Kissane, Sgt Martha McEnery and Garda Daniel Hickey all deny assaulting Anthony Holness, aged 38, causing him harm, while Garda John Burke denies acting with intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of another and acting in a manner tending and intended to pervert the course of justice.