A Limerick-based GP who is also a medical examiner for Henry Street Garda station yesterday denied that he "whitewashed" records for the gardaí.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Dr Daragh Little was called to the station to examine one of seven men being detained there. They were arrested in December 2001 when gardaí raided a house in Limerick in which a suspected meeting of the Continuity IRA was taking place.
Ms Graine McMorrow SC, for Mr Christopher Dunne, one of seven men accused of being members of an illegal organisation, put it to Dr Little that her client had been assaulted by the gardai during arrest. Mr Dunne would give evidence that he had been kicked in the side of the face and in the mouth and had sustained bruising to the face and a cut lip. Dr Little said he did not see any visible injuries of that nature when he examined the accused.
Ms McMorrow said evidence will be produced that a doctor at Portlaoise Prison recorded injuries consistent with an assault when Mr Dunne was brought to the jail two days later. Dr Little repeated that he had noticed no injuries of the type Mr Dunne complained of. Counsel then suggested to the witness that "you are someone who will whitewash Garda evidence".
"That is not correct," Dr Little replied. Counsel then requested Dr Little's notes of the examination but he said they had been stolen when his car was robbed.
The seven men are accused of being members of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA otherwise otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann. They deny the charges.
They are Mr Des Long (62), of Shannon Banks, Limerick; Mr Patrick Kenneally (58), Crusheen, Co Clare; Mr Patrick O' Shea (54), Sir Harry's Mall, Limerick; Mr Gerard Brommell (43), Rostura Crescent, Woodview Park, Limerick; Mr Robert McNamara (59), St Michael's Avenue, Tipperary; Mr Joseph Lynch (61), Beechgrove Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick; and Mr Christopher Dunne (28), Donnellan Buildings, Rosbrien, Limerick.
The trial continues on Friday.