Ex-garda was subject to ‘serious assault’, court told

A RETIRED garda has told a court he has made a complaint to gardaí about a serious assault on him at the scene of an eviction in Strokestown, Co Roscommon, last month.

There were angry scenes at Castlerea District Court yesterday after a Donegal man charged with violent disorder at Falsk in Strokestown, some days after the eviction, was remanded in custody after four people willing to be independent sureties for bail were deemed unacceptable.

Kevin Taylor confirmed he had made a complaint on December 12 about an alleged assault on him at Falsk on December 11, the date of the eviction. He described it as a “serious, serious assault causing bodily harm”.

Earlier a crowd of about 20 anti-eviction protesters had gathered outside Harristown District court in advance of the appearance of two defendants charged separately with offences at Falsk some days after the eviction.

Mr Taylor, a retired garda of Dublin Road, Longford, was one of four people who had offered to provide €5,000 as an independent surety in the case of PJ Sweeney (54), from High Cairn, Ramelton, Co Donegal. Mr Sweeney is charged with violent disorder at Falsk on December 16 last.

Judge Marie Keane was told the High Court had approved bail for Mr Sweeney on Thursday, subject to a number of strict conditions.

After his case was dealt with first at Harristown court on Friday morning and later at Castlerea District Court, Mr Sweeney was remanded in custody. He is due to appear at Harristown on January 25.

Martin O’Toole (54), from Stripe IrishTown, Claremorris, Co Mayo, was remanded in custody until February 1 after appearing at Harristown court charged with burglary and trespass at Falsk, Strokestown on December 16 last.