Man guilty of assaulting female garda

NEW ROSS-BASED GARDA WAS INJURED WHILE TRYING TO PUT DEFENDANT INTO PATROL CAR

A JURY has found a Waterford man guilty by unanimous verdict of an assault on a New Rossbased garda.

Radu Anghel, of 26 Newport Terrace, Waterford, pleaded not guilty when he came before Judge Martina Baxter at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Garda Wendy O’Connor causing her harm at New Ross on July 14, 2016.

However, after deliberations of only half an hour, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

In evidence, Garda O’Connor told that court that she and her colleague Garda Brian Flanagan had been on patrol on the night in question. They had observed the defendant driving, and following his car into a car park.

The defendant, said Garda O’Connor, got out of his car and approached their patrol car. Following a discussion with the defendant, Garda Flanagan attempted to place the defendant in the patrol car. As Garda O’Connor attempted to help Garda Flanagan, the defendant caught her thumb in a tight grip and bent it backwards. She immediately felt pain shooting up her arm, Garda O’Connor said.

Handcuffs were subsequently place on the defendant and he was conveyed to New Ross Garda Station.

Responding to questions from defence counsel John Peart, Garda O’Connor said she contacted Caredoc at 12.45am on the night in question, while a report of the incident was made at New Ross Garda Station.

She also said that she attended A&E on the instructions of her doctor. There was ligament damage to her thumb, she added, leaving her out of work since the incident.

Prosecuting counsel Sinead Gleeson read into the court the medical report of Dr Linda Forde which stated that Garda O’Connor’s left thumb had been pulled back and injured. It was treated by way of having a splint and sling placed on her arm. There was no fracture, she said.

The jury, after deliberating for a little over half an hour, returned a guilty verdict.

Judge Baxter adjourned sentencing to Friday next.