Off-duty garda denies punching women during argument

A garda is denying allegations that he punched two women in the face in the early hours of the morning after an argument developed during a drive home, a court has heard.

Brian Hanrahan, aged 34, of Newcastlewest, Co Limerick, is charged with two counts of assault arising from an incident in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, on March 6.

Judge Elizabeth MacGrath yesterday accepted jurisdiction in the case at Nenagh District Court and was told Mr Hanrahan is pleading not guilty to the offences, which are “completely denied”.

Outlining the allegations against Mr Hanrahan, state solicitor Michelle O’Connell said gardaí in Nenagh were made aware of an incident shortly after 4am on March 6. On arrival at the scene, they found a young female who had an “injury to the mouth” and was “visibly upset”, Ms O’Connell said.

“She had blood on her face and said her tooth was loose.”

This woman told gardaí that her friend had agreed to give a man a lift home, for a fee of €15. She was a front-seat passenger in the car when the man became “abusive” while talking about Nenagh during the journey. They became offended and the driver, this woman’s friend, stopped the car and asked him to get out.

“It was at this point that this male punched her in the face when she asked for the money.” The man was tall and had red hair, the woman told gardaí.

The other woman, the driver, said she was assaulted when she tried to stop the man assaulting her friend. “She said she was then punched in the face.” The man then walked away.

While gardaí were at the scene, a tall man with red hair was seen staggering “and appeared to be drunk”.

He gave his name as Brian Hanrahan and identified himself as an off-duty member of An Garda Síochána. The gardaí noticed that the man had a cut on his hand, “by his knuckles”. He was brought to the Garda station in Nenagh and his hands were photographed.

The woman initially punched in the face had a swollen and tender upper lip and was in severe pain at the time, Ms O’Connell told the court. She had a fracture to a tooth and a ligament was widened. She needed dental work which cost €510. The other woman had bruising to the left side of her face and said she was punched twice with a fist. She didn’t require medical treatment.

Judge MacGrath said she was accepting jurisdiction in the case and noted the DPP had directed that the matter be dealt with summarily.

The accused’s solicitor, Daniel O’Gorman, said the offences are “completely denied” and his client is pleading not guilty. It was Mr Hanrahan who rang the gardaí on the night, and “denies any allegations”.

The accused was in court yesterday but was not requested to speak. Judge MacGrath remanded Mr Hanrahan on continuing bail until February 3

Mr Hanrahan came to public attention last year when he was shot while on holiday in the United States.