Garda to go on trial for city centre street attack

A garda who has pleaded not guilty to attacking a man in Dublin City centre in 2012 will go on trial in January, a judge ordered yesterday.

Garda Donal O’Neill, who is based at Pearse St station, in Dublin, is accused of assaulting a named man on Pearse St on December 16, 2012. He is being prosecuted by the DPP on behalf of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

Yesterday at Dublin District Court Judge Eugene O’Kelly agreed a request from prosecution solicitor Ronan O’Brien’s for the two-day hearing to commence on January 27.

The defendant had been excused from attending the proceedings yesterday.

At an earlier stage the court had heard the prosecution had complied with an order to provide disclosure of evidence to the defence which have said the case is a “lengthy matter”.

No evidence relating to the allegation has been given so far in the proceedings.

The assault charge is a summary offence which on conviction can result in a possible fine and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.