A judge has asked gardai to initiate an inquiry into allegations that witnesses for the defendant in a civil court action were assaulted. Judge Esmonde Smyth also asked them to investigate claims by relatives of the unsuccessful plaintiff, a minor, that witnesses on the defendant's side had been offered financial inducements to give evidence.
Mr Martin Hayden, for Chatham Pipe Lines Ltd, Muckross Avenue, Perrystown, Dublin, said the case had been abandoned by Ms Carolyn Clarke, mother of Daniel Clarke (12), Melrose Park, Clondalkin, who was injured in an incident involving his client's lorry.
Mr Hayden said a number of witnesses for his client were punched and assaulted as they got off a bus on their way home. Mr Richard McDonnell, for the Clarkes, said there were allegations of witnesses for the defendant having been given financial inducements to give evidence.
Judge Smyth asked the gardai to carry out a full inquiry into what had taken place before and after the court hearing.