He will face trial
A POLICE officer has been told his trial for misconduct WILL go ahead - despite a key witness failing to turn up to the hearing.
Pc Daniel Gaffney could be sacked if he is found guilty of misconduct over the arrest of a ‘UKIP secretary’ who allegedly threatened to burn down a club that wouldn’t let him in.
The Pc has been suspended ever since the incident in April 2018, for which he is accused of gross misconduct.
The case has taken more than three years to reach this point, and Pc Gaffney last week made an application to stay, claiming he would not get a fair trial. But the panel considering the case has thrown out the application.
The panel found that a fair trial can be held.
A hearing at Greater Manchester Police headquarters last week heard about the arrest of Kaide Seager for alleged breach of the peace.
Mr Saeger was placed in a police van but fell out of the door as it was being driven away, the tribunal heard.
The incident left Mr Saeger with ‘blood pouring from his head’ which required hospital treatment.
The misconduct hearing centres on how Mr Saeger came to suffer his injuries and Pc Gaffney’s actions afterwards, the tribunal was told. It wasn’t until January this year when Pc Gaffney was served with papers by GMP’s Professional Standards Branch indicating he would face gross misconduct charges, the tribunal heard.
After several delays, a five-day hearing was fixed to begin on Monday last week. But the witness, Mr Saeger, failed to attend.
The tribunal heard that Mr Saegar was recently bereaved and no longer wishes to play any part in proceedings.