Former Garda superintendent denies 'crusade' against sexual assault accused

A retired superintendent giving evidence in the trial of a Dublin man accused of the sexual assault of a child denied gardaí were involved in a crusade against the accused.

Pleas of not guilty were entered by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on behalf of the 64-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, on all 14 counts after he refused to indicate whether he would plead guilty or not guilty.

The charges included two of sexual assault and 12 of defilement of a child in both Kildare and Dublin on dates between August 1, 2008 and January 6, 2009.

Supt Browne told defence counsel, Mr John Peart SC, that he received a call from Detective Sergeant David Wogan from Irishtown Garda Station requesting permission to extend the detention of the accused.

Supt Browne told Mr Peart he granted the request as Detective Wogan said he felt he did not have enough evidence at that time to charge the accused.

Mr Peart put it to Supt Browne that by granting the order he was “brought in” to a “crusade against the accused by Irishtown gardaí”.

Supt Browne said: “That is incorrect. The order was to ensure the full and proper investigation of a crime.”

Detective Sergeant Barry Walsh of Irishtown Garda Station described Mr Peart’s assertion that he had wished to “nail” the accused as “a ludicrous allegation”.

Detective Walsh also denied that by taking a statement from the complainant he was interfering with an investigation by Naas Garda Station.

The court had previously heard that on January 7, 2009 the complainant had fled her home following an argument with her parents about the alleged offences.

She was subsequently arrested under the Mental Treatment Act and taken to Naas Garda station where she had been “extremely upset, nearly hysterical, screaming and shouting and “kicking doors”.

Detective Walsh told Mr Peart that he was contacted by the complainant’s father who told him his daughter wished to make a statement but did not wish to deal with gardaí in Naas.

Detective Walsh said he agreed to this as “she was a young girl in traumatic circumstances”.

The jury were shown garda interviews with the accused who said at the outset of the tape that he would not engage with gardaí as he had been “denied access to a High Court Judge”.

Throughout nine hours of taped interviews with the gardaí the accused answered every question with: “I do not wish to have any hand, act or part in this process for the already stated.”

The trial continues before the jury of five men and seven and Judge Desmond Hogan.