Garda compensation hearing told prisoner defecated in cell

A detective garda suffered psychological injuries after a prisoner defecated in his cell and rubbed his excrement over his face, the High Court was told yesterday.

Cavan based Detective Garda Linda Harkin, 39, told the court that, in June 2005, she had brought a cup of tea to a prisoner who had been brought in for questioning in relation to a “serious gangland murder investigation”.

She told her counsel, Frank Martin, that the prisoner had not wanted to co-operate during interviews, but had not caused any trouble when she brought him meals and accompanied him on a confined recreation walk.