Garda granted leave to challenge disciplinary probe

A garda acquitted by a court of assaulting a prisoner has launched a High Court challenge aimed at preventing an internal Garda disciplinary probe into the same incident from going ahead.

Garda Thomas McKenna was acquitted in April 2013 at Waterford Circuit Court of assaulting Bartlomej Skwiru at Waterford Garda Station, while he was on duty, on the night of June 19-20, 2010. Mr Skwiru was in custody at the time.

The garda, who denied the charge, had been convicted at Waterford District Court in 2011 of assault causing harm to Mr Skwiru, a native of Poland. Garda McKenna, who is originally from Cork, and had been stationed in Waterford in 2010 successfully appealed that conviction.