A retired Garda detective inspector told the High Court yesterday he was shocked and devastated when told he was being arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act on suspicion of membership of an illegal organisation.
Mr Joe Walshe (61), Oaklawn Drive, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, was beginning his evidence on the second day of an action by him and Ms Kay Bedford (58) of Sir Harry's Mall, Limerick, arising from their separate arrests under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act in Limerick on the evening of September 27th, 1991.
Both Mr Walshe and Ms Bedford allege they were falsely imprisoned and that the conduct of the defendants was slanderous.
Ms Bedford is suing Anthony Fennessy, a detective inspector; the Minister for Justice; Ireland; and the Attorney General. Mr Walshe is suing the same defendants and an assistant Garda commissioner, Mr Thomas A. Sloyan.
Yesterday, Mr Walshe said he was told on September 27th, 1991, while in Henry Street Garda station in Limerick, that Supt Higgins wanted to see him. This was not unusual but Insp Fennessy then arrested him.
He got such a shock that he told Insp Fennessy: "You must be f***ing joking."
Mr Walsh said he thought it was a joke of some sort. He was refused a phone call and it devastated him to be brought down through the corridors with all of his colleagues looking at him. He was then taken to Dublin at high speed and had said, as he was taken away, that somebody had got their wires crossed. While he was leaving, he was told he was suspended.
On arrival at the Bridewell Garda station in Dublin, the cameras were there, including RTÉ, as somebody had obviously tipped them off, he said.
Earlier, Ms Bedford told the court that gardaí called to her home at about 7.45 p.m. on September 27th, 1991, and searched the premises.
She was told she was under suspicion of being a member of the IRA.
She was taken to the Bridewell Garda station in Dublin and told she was under arrest under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
She was released on Sunday morning.
She was questioned as to whether anyone from the IRA had ever worked in her home and said she told the gardaí she knew nothing about the IRA. She was also asked about her relationship with Mr Walshe and she said they were just friends.
Ms Bedford said she was put in a cell that night. On the Saturday morning, she was again questioned. She was put in a cell at lunchtime and again questioned in the afternoon and the evening. The gardaí were pleasant and not aggressive. She was put back in the cell again that night.
At 7.15 p.m. on September 28th, she was told her detention was being extended by a further 24 hours to 48 hours. She was shocked and devastated.
The case continues.