No jail for Garda who attacked man during arrest in Dublin city centre

A Garda has been sentenced to 200 hours community service for attacking a drunk man in a Santa hat during an arrest in Dublin city-centre.

Donal O'Neill (aged 31) who has been based at Pearse Garda Street station in Dublin since 2006, had denied assaulting Tim Dowling (aged 29) at Pearse Street in the early hours of December 16, 2012, but was found guilty following his trial in June.