A SUGGESTION that two witnesses may have been persuaded not to give evidence in a claim for damages against a garda has shocked a judge.
Ms Mary Wilson, of New Street Gardens, Dublin, brought a claim for up to £30,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court yesterday against Garda Gerard Doyle, of Harcourt Terrace Garda station and the State.
Her counsel, Mr Richard N. Kean, sought an adjournment "on instructions" that two witnesses, who until recently had indicated they would support Mrs Wilson's account of the alleged assault, had been asked not to give evidence.
Mr Kean said they had failed to appear in court and he felt their evidence was necessary to prosecute his client's claim.
While Judge Diarmuid Sheridan drew no inferences with regard to either party he considered any attempt to suborn a witness a serious matter.
He told Mr Kean he would consider directing a chief superintendent from another Garda area to inquire into the matter but would reserve his decision until having heard all the evidence.
If this revealed any attempt to get at a witness he would refer the matter directly to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Mr David Barniville, counsel for Garda Doyle and the State, wished to make it clear that no member of the Garda Siochana, had attempted to prevent any witness from coming to court. If an inquiry on behalf of the court revealed the allegation was unfounded he would invite the court to take an equally severe view of such an outcome.
Judge Sheridan adjourned the hearing until July 16th. In the meantime, he granted leave to the plaintiff to subpoena both witnesses to attend court.