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Ex-Buncrana Garda "a public
disgrace"
21.12.07
by Anita Guidera, Irish Independent
A FORMER Buncrana Garda who "pulverised" his former
girlfriend's face in a sustained assault, just days
before Christmas, has been described by a judge as a
disgrace to his profession.
Brian McSharry (36), Benroe, Bruckless, County
Donegal, pleaded guilty to assaulting Kathy Meehan
(23) on December 20, 2006. He was dismissed from the
force in September.
A serving Garda for over 17 years, he had been
stationed mainly in Killybegs, but was transferred
to Buncrana for the final three years - following a
previous assault on the same party, Supt. Jimmy Coen,
chief of the Buncrana district, revealed in Donegal
Circuit Court earlier this week.
The court heard the attack in which Ms Meehan was
punched, kicked and dragged by the hair, took place
at her Killybegs home while their three-year-old
daughter slept in her bedroom. On two occasions
during the assault, McSharry offered a terrified Ms
Meehan his phone to contact the gardai, but she was
too afraid.
After viewing photographs of the victim's face,
Judge John O'Hagan commented, "From the photos I
have seen, there was a lot of pulverising on the
night in question."
Adjourning sentencing until the March sitting of the
Circuit Court, the judge said the defendant had
brought disgrace on the Garda Siochana.
"He does realise he is a public disgrace and he has
brought the force of which he was a member into
disrepute. They can do without that," he said.
Supt. Coen told the court that Ms Meehan had
received a number of text messages from McSharry
before he arrived at her home at 9pm on the night in
question. |
 |
McSharry, who was
drunk, began asking her about a new relationship and
slapped her across the face and with his open hand
as he quizzed her.
He then hit her with his closed fist, kicked her,
held her down, twisted her arm behind her back and
threatened to break it. He twisted her arm in what
the victim described as a "Chinese burn".
During the assault, McSharry broke an artificial
Christmas tree and the window blind. When Ms Meehan
went to the child's room he followed |
her, catching her by
the hair and dragging her back out.
The attack came to an abrupt end when a friend
arrived at the house and raised the alarm. The
defendant fled through the fields, but was found by
Gardai in Killybegs two hours later.
The terrified woman was treated for her injuries at
Sligo General Hospital, where she made a statement
to Gardai.
Two months later, she informed officers that she
wanted to withdraw her complaint. Despite this, the
DPP decided to proceed with the matter.
McSharry was interviewed by Gardai on five separate
occasions, and each time replied "nothing to say" to
the questions that were put to him.
Addressing the judge, an emotional Ms Meehan told
the court that she was in another relationship and
was satisfied that McSharry, who now works as a
delivery man in his native Sligo, would not
interfere with her again.
Counsel for McSharry, Miriam Reilly, said her
client, who is undergoing anger management
counselling, regretted his lapse in judgment and
loss of control on the night. He was remanded on
continuing bail until next March. |
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