Latest news with #AineClancy
Sunday World
26-06-2025
- Sunday World
Garda and wife use anti-stalking laws for restraining order against senior officer
The couple are representing themselves and lodged an application at Dublin District Court, which came before Judge Aine Clancy today. A garda and his wife are using anti-stalking laws to secure a civil restraining order against a high-ranking superior officer claiming harassment and bullying. They lodged an application at Dublin District Court, which came before Judge Aine Clancy today. The proceedings are being held in camera, meaning the public cannot attend, and parties involved cannot be identified due to reporting restrictions. Brian Gageby BL, instructed by the Chief State Solicitor's Office, acted for the respondent, and the judge noted that they had filed a 63-page affidavit. Stock image: PA News in 90 Seconds - June 26th Counsel described it as an unusual case where the applicants have alleged bullying and harassment; however the senior officer's case was that he was acting in the course of his duty. The couple are representing themselves. The garda's wife said the respondent's affidavit amounted to misinformation, which she described as horrendous. Her husband also contended that the manner in which the documents were served on him "has caused severe distress and personal alarm to me and my family." He added that in future, he was agreeable to collecting any further material from a garda premises, and he raised concerns that at an earlier stage in the proceedings, other gardaí were in court as part of a police plan allegedly at the request of the respondent. The couple have summoned six other officers to give evidence, and the respondent has already given a personal assurance to stay away from the couple, their home, children and pets. Mr Gageby said that there was no difficulty with that continuing. Judge Clancy ordered the officer and his wife to file responding affidavits by July 30, and the case will be listed for mention the following day. She set aside a whole day for the hearing of the action in early October. The civil restraining orders were introduced in the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 as a measure for people seeking protection. The District Court may issue an order to prevent the respondent from violence or threats, stalking, harassing or approaching the applicant's home, work, or school. It can run for up to five years but may be shorter. Breaking it could mean jail for up to a year and a maximum of €4,000 fine.
Sunday World
05-06-2025
- Sunday World
Garda assaulted teen joyrider with ‘gratuitous' knee to stomach as he arrested him
The youth had already surrendered following a pursuit and was being restrained when Garda Dean Chapman struck him with 'no need', a court heard A garda assaulted a teenage joyrider with a 'gratuitous' knee to the stomach as he arrested him after a 'highly reckless' road rampage around a busy shopping centre. The youth had already surrendered following a pursuit and was being restrained when Garda Dean Chapman struck him with 'no need', a court heard. Chapman (35), who has since left the force and is now a firefighter and paramedic, pleaded guilty when he appeared in Dublin District Court. Judge Aine Clancy applied the Probation of Offenders Act, sparing him a recorded conviction, after he made a €1,000 charity donation. Chapman admitted assaulting the teenager at an address in west Dublin following a road chase around the Blanchardstown Centre on January 22, 2023. The court heard the car was stolen in Tipperary and was driven dangerously in a garda pursuit which ended when it was abandoned in the shopping centre. The teenager was arrested at a nearby house and Chapman placed a hand on his shoulder before bringing him to the ground. When the youth was being brought back to his feet, Chapman kneed him in the abdominal area. The garda air support unit had been involved in the pursuit and the helicopter footage was played to the court, showing the car being driven at speed through traffic on a busy afternoon at the Blanchardstown Centre. Chapman, who had no previous convictions, was involved in the pursuit from the M50 and the court had seen an example of 'what can only be described as highly reckless and dangerous driving' by the stolen car, his barrister said. Garda Dean Chapman. Photo: Collins Courts News in 90 Seconds - 5th June 2025 He had witnessed this before the encounter with the teenager who was 'previously known to the gardai and had not been compliant with them.' This was to the forefront of Chapman's mind when he struck the victim in a 'momentary aberration of character.' The victim was now serving a prison sentence. Chapman had worked in the gardai for four years as well in the defence forces and had an 'exemplary record.' The assault incident was one factor in Chapman's decision to resign from the gardai. The lawyer asked the judge to consider the effect a conviction would have for someone like Chapman, who was dealing with the public on a daily basis. The court heard he had one child and another on the way. Judge Clancy said she had seen the 'horrendous' driving that took place in the lead up to the assault. 'It's a knee to the abdomen of the injured party, it was gratuitous, he was already restrained and there was no need to do that,' she said. However, she dismissed the charge under the Probation Act after the €1,000 donation was made.
