A uniformed traffic warden, who was arrested and dragged off a street by a garda, has been awarded £5,500 damages in the Circuit Civil Court for wrongful imprisonment.
Judge Liam Devally said Garda Eanus McNulty had, in a sneering fashion, assumed a stature and superiority of rank over traffic warden Mrs Mary Parnell when he arrested her outside the Bridewell Garda Station on March 16th, 1998.
Mrs Parnell (56), of Hillcrest Park, Glasnevin, Dublin, told the court Garda McNulty, now stationed in Ballina, Co Mayo, dragged her off the street and held her in a dark room in the Bridewell after having arrested her for a breach of the peace.
She had sued Garda McNulty and the State for £30,000 damages for assault and wrongful imprisonment.
Mr Alex White, counsel for the traffic warden, said the assault and arrest took place after Mrs Parnell "ticketed" Garda cars parked on double yellow lines between the Four Courts and the Bridewell Garda station. He said Garda McNulty told her she should not be putting tickets on State cars on his patch.
Mr Breffni Gordon, counsel for Garda McNulty and the Garda Commissioner, said there was a full denial of the allegations and a complete conflict of evidence in the case.
Mr Gordon said it was not disputed that Garda McNulty had arrested Mrs Parnell but it was the State's contention that the arrest was lawful, justified and reasonable in the circumstances.
Judge Devally found she had technically assaulted Garda Mc Nulty and had failed to co-operate in providing her name and address in the station.