A Detective yesterday challenged fines of £1,600 imposed by the Garda authorities following a disciplinary hearing into complaints made by three of his neighbours, some going back as far as 1993.
Det Garda Peter Byrne claimed his firearm was taken and he was confined to desk duties. Mr Jack Fitzgerald SC, for Garda Bryne, told the High Court his client, who had never been the subject of a complaint, became aware that three neighbours in Estuary Court, Swords, Co Dublin had complained he had spread rumours about their families. Garda Byrne totally rejected the allegations, arising out of a personal dispute with the neighbours who had been his friends.
A Garda Complaints Tribunal had dismissed the complaints over the time elapsed and later a new complaints procedure was started before a Garda disciplinary board. The complaints were not identical but involved the same neighbours.
The disciplinary board chairman - a senior Garda officer - he refused to adjourn the hearing after the garda's solicitor said he had not had sufficient time to prepare his case.
The hearing convicted Garda Byrne on eight complaints and fined him £1,600. Garda Byrne is seeking a judicial review of the disciplinary hearing and asking for an order quashing the board's decision. The hearing continues today before Mr Justice Liam MacKechnie.