Man who alleged garda mistreatment loses claim for damages

An artist who alleged he was kicked and punched by gardaí in Store Street Garda Station, Dublin, has lost a €38,000 damages claim against the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner.

Christopher Cox (aged 56), of Richmond Cottages, Summerhill, Dublin, was shown in a video urinating on the street outside the Parnell Mooney pub on of August 7, 2004 before gardaí arrived and arrested him.

Cox told the Circuit Civil Court he had been punched in the head and kicked in his back while in a cell. He said a number of gardaí also lay on him, impairing his breathing.

He had visited the Mater Hospital next day with pains in his back, neck, arms and toes and claimed he had lacerations above his left eyebrow and abrasions over his left knee and thigh.

A number of garda witnesses who helped arrest Cox told the Circuit Civil Court he had been drunk on the night. He had become very agitated and had to be restrained.

He had been very abusive and violent.

Dismissing the claim, Circuit Court President Mr Justice Matthew Deery said Cox had been very aggressive and intoxicated. No medical records produced to the court had referred to the level of injuries described by Cox. Bruising had probably been caused by his resisting arrest.