Garda conviction would force ‘rethink’ on drunks

A SENIOR counsel representing a garda on trial for allegedly assaulting a man who resisted arrest has said if her client is convicted, the gardaí will “have to rethink how they deal with drunk, aggressive people” from now on.

Iseult O’Malley SC, representing Sgt Martha McEnery, who is one of four gardaí on trial for alleged offences arising out of an assault in Waterford last year, said in her closing speech that if a man gets drunk and urinates in a doorway, he will be apprehended by the gardaí.

“If he is aggressive and curses at gardaí and won’t give his name, he’ll be arrested. If he resists arrest, he will be handcuffed. That is the law. Force is going to be used in those circumstances.”