Evidence was heard yesterday at Wexford Circuit Court in a case involving a garda who is charged with assaulting two colleagues at a Co Wexford licensed premises on Easter Sunday 2003.
Declan Dennehy, of Lower John Street, Wexford, is charged with assaulting Sinéad Sweeney, Castlebridge, causing harm at the Centenary Stores disco bar. He is also charged with assaulting Paul Cotter. Both are members of the Garda stationed at Sundrive Road Garda station, Naas, Co Kildare.
At Tuesday's sitting, Ms Sweeney told the court she went to Wexford town with Mr Cotter, her sister Olivia and three friends at around 10pm on April 19th, 2003. She said the group had a drink or two at the Crown bar before going on to the Centenary Stores. Shortly after arriving Ms Sweeney noticed Mr Dennehy staring at her in an intimidating fashion, she said. Ms Sweeney said Mr Dennehy approached her shortly afterwards, whispering in her ear: "I see you're shagging student gardaí in your unit now."
He was "extremely intoxicated" she added.
Ms Sweeney said she was so disgusted by the comment she told her boyfriend, who became livid. She said Mr Dennehy returned shortly afterwards. "He was eye-balling me. I was trying to avoid the whole situation. The next thing I could feel this searing pain on the right side of my face."
Ms Sweeney was bleeding heavily and barely able to stand. She was taken to hospital where she received five stitches to a laceration just above her right ear.
Robbie O'Neill, defending, accused Ms Sweeney of "stirring things up" by getting Mr Cotter to go over to Mr Dennehy, which she denied. Evidence was given by a friend of Ms Sweeney, Sandra Stafford, that Mr Dennehy hopped a pint glass off Mr Cotter's head, which shattered. This led to Ms Sweeney's injury, Noel Whelan, prosecuting, argued.
At yesterday's hearing, a friend of Mr Dennehy, Mairead Lane gave evidence that Mr Dennehy, his sister, and a friend named Conor, had gone to Centenary Stores. She said Mr Dennehy was approached three times by a young man. After one of these occasions the man, returned to his girlfriend, kissing her, which Ms Lane found inappropriate. When asked by Mr Õ'Neill if this was done to get Mr Donnelly's attention, she replied that it was.
On the third occasion Mr Dennehy told her "I don't know this guy" and the group moved away further down the bar. Ms Lane said that the man followed them. Shortly afterwards she said she saw the man being carried out of the front door.
A bouncer asked Mr Dennehy to leave subsequently, she added. The case continues today.