Five gardai attacked with one needing 30 stitches, court told

Naoise OConarain arriving at Dublin Circuit Criminal court yesterday

By Anne Sharkey

A jury in the trial of a Dublin soldier charged with assaulting five gardai has heard that one garda received between 25 and 30 stitches following the alleged incident.

Naoise O Conarain (22) of Redwood Lawn, Kilnamanagh, pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting officers Andrew Quinn and Fiachra Molloy causing them harm at his home on March 10 2013.

He also denied charges of assaulting garda Ross Foy, Kevin Keane and Simon Butler on the same date.

Garda Andrew Quinn told the court yesterday that he received a punch to the face from the accused after attending the house to arrest a male who had assaulted his colleague.

"I was stunned. I closed my eyes. I was trying to concentrate on staying on my feet," said Gda Quinn.

The court heard that Gda Quinn arrived at the home of the accused at 4.10am on that Sunday morning.

He said he took out his pepper spray and shouted at Mr Conarain to get back. He said the accused was in an aggressive state.

"I grabbed him around the arms and torso - he wasn't compliant by any means - he was resisting gardai," said Gda Quinn.

The jury were told that Gda Quinn underwent counselling in the weeks following the alleged assault.

STITCHED

"I was taken to A&E in Tallaght hospital. I was stitched by the doctor on my top lip and lower - in total I received 25 to 30 stitches," he said.

"Weeks later I attended counselling. I attended six sessions. After not being able to sleep I was prescribed sleeping tablets for a short time."

Under cross examination by Micheal P O'Higgins, Gda Quinn was asked if he was 'aggressive' to which he replied "I was assertive. I've never experienced a situation of this level before. I was there as a member of An Garda Siochana. I wasn't there as a street fighter or some sort of vigilante."

Footage captured on an iPhone of events at the home of the accused on March 10 were shown to the jury.

Garda Kevin Keane of Tallaght garda station who was also present, described the situation as one of 'chaos'.

"There was lots of shouting, lots of abuse being thrown at us - there was a very very aggressive atmosphere," said Gda Keane.

He said he saw the accused holding a razor.

"Naoise Conarain was screaming and shouting. He had a blue disposable razor in his hand - he attacked Garda Quinn with it. He was what I would describe as being out of control," said Gda Keane.

The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of four women and eight men.

hnews@herald.ie