RTS cops in court today -

national | miscellaneous | news report

Thursday January 23, 2003 17:39

by Eamonn Crudden

Cases deferred till March at least

Can anyone translate what this means from the legalese? What tapes are they referring to in the article

(16:36) Seven gardaí appeared in court today charged with assault arising out of the May Day anti-globalisation protests. All the cases were adjourned until March.

Gardaí Thomas Victory, Ronan Judge, Donal Corcoran, all from Store Street; Paul Daly, Fergus Hogan, both from Pearse Street; and Paul Tallon, Mountjoy, were charged with assault causing harm to protestors at different city centre locations on 6 May last.

A seventh garda, Keith Goff from Mountjoy, was charged with simple assault.

Dublin District Court heard the DPP had directed trial on indictment for the first six. This means their cases will be heard in the Circuit Court before a jury if they are pleading not guilty.

Garda Goff will be tried before a judge in the District Court.

Breffni Gordon, counsel for seven of the officers, complained that today was the first time the DPP had indicated he was seeking trial in the higher court.

There had been considerable media interest, 'in fact a media frenzy', he said, over these cases since last June and they were now being told they would be further protracted.

Noel McCartan, who is separately representing Paul Tallon, asked that any video tapes be provided in advance of normal disclosure as more time was needed to allow the defence view them.

Judge Geoffrey Browne ordered that the tapes, the full unedited versions, be made available as soon as possible.