Four gardaí accused of assaulting teenager

Four garda have today denied assaulting a teenager while his mother was held against her will.

Garda Alan Conlon, Claire Delaney, Eoin Murtagh and Sean O’Leary are on trial accused of assault causing harm to Owen Gaffney, and forcible entry and trespass at the family home in inner city Dublin on February 17, 2008.

Conlon, Delaney and Murtagh are also accused of the false imprisonment of his mother, Fidelma, in her flat in Basin Street Upper.

The four co-accused pleaded not guilty to each of the charges at Dublin Circuit Court.

The court heard the trial is expected to last between three and four weeks.

Three of the gardaí – Delaney, Murtagh and O’Leary – were stationed in Kilmainham at the time. Conlon was stationed at Kevin Street station.

A jury is being sworn in and the case is due to open later today before Judge Desmond Hogan.

The case was adjourned until Tuesday morning, when it will be opened by prosecution barrister Tom O’Connell SC.