A Shannon-based garda, who was suspended from duty yesterday, has been charged with threatening a woman due to appear as a witness in a public order case against him.
Garda Pat Keating (32), with an address at Woodlands, Ennis, was arrested shortly before midday yesterday at Abbey Street in Ennis after gardaí received a call from a woman alleging he had threatened her.
Garda Keating later appeared before Judge Leo Malone at a sitting of Limerick District Court.
The court heard evidence from a senior garda that the Clare man is due before Ennis District Court on September 9th next in relation to another matter.
Garda Keating was in court yesterday dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.
Supt John Kerin from Ennis Garda Station told the court a female witness in the upcoming court case contacted gardaí in the early hours of yesterday morning.
She alleged she had been threatened by Garda Keating and "the inference made was that her life was in danger", the court heard.
Garda Keating was yesterday charged under Section 41 of the Criminal Justice Act that on August 18th last, at Ballycasey in Shannon, he did threaten or menace a witness in proceedings for an offence with the intention of causing the course of justice to be perverted, obstructed or interfered with.
Limerick District Court heard yesterday that Garda Keating made no reply to the charge after he was cautioned at Ennis Garda Station shortly before midday yesterday.
Giving evidence at Limerick District Court yesterday Supt Kerin described the offence against Garda Keating as "very serious" and added that while the State was not objecting to bail it was insisting on "strict" bail conditions.
Judge Leo Malone ordered that the accused must stay away from the six named witnesses in the upcoming case.
A list containing the names of all of the six witnesses was then handed into the court.
Bail was granted on the accused's own bond of €900 and the case was adjourned until September 9th next to Ennis District Court.
Garda Keating was suspended from work yesterday at Shannon Garda Station for three days. The suspension will be reviewed after that period expires.