VIDEO FOOTAGE relating to an alleged assault by one solicitor against another appears to have been edited, it has been claimed in court.
The claim was made by solicitor John Devane (49), The Crescent, Limerick city, who is accused of assaulting John Herbert, who also practises as a solicitor in Limerick.
Mr Devane is accused of assaulting Mr Herbert on May 25th and June 9th this year at Limerick District Court on Merchants Quay, Limerick. During a hearing yesterday, Mr Devane told Judge Gerard Haughton he had seen the CCTV footage, “which appears to be edited somewhat”.
Mr Devane applied to the court to disclose the master copy of the CCTV footage and to disclose footage from a digital audio recording system, used by the Courts Service at Limerick District Court on June 9th this year.
The system is used by the Courts Service to record conversations within courtrooms.
Garda Insp Luke Conlon, of Henry Street station, Limerick, told Judge Haughton that these recordings were not available to gardaí who had received word from the office of the Chief Justice that such recordings could not be disclosed to a third party.
Det Garda Sgt Brian Sugrue, Henry Street, told the court that Mr Devane had a “full copy” of the original CCTV footage. Mr Devane said he would welcome the opportunity to view the master tape “in a Garda station if necessary”.
Judge Haughton adjourned the case to January 25th.