sexual/physical assault charge against a Garda in Galway

Elevator

just heard this on today fm news that there's been charges taken against a Galway based Garda since last sat
anyone got anymore info?

Mod note: do not mention anything to identify the person unless you have a link from RTE or similar site, cheers.

Adelie

There's a bit more on the Irish Times website. sounds bizarre

A garda has been arrested and suspended from duty on suspicion of indecently assaulting a woman last week, The Irish Times has learned.

The young garda, who is believed to be a probationary member of the force, was arrested in Co Galway in the early hours of last Wednesday morning on suspicion of indecently assaulting the victim.

It is understood the garda did not know the woman. One source said the incident did not occur in the context of a date.

The garda was believed to be driving in his car near University College Galway when he is alleged to have got out of the vehicle and chased after two women, aggressively groping one of them in an apparent random attack.

He fled the scene but was arrested a short distance away.

The trainee garda was suspended from duty on Thursday, and the matter was referred by Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin, to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

The Garda is conducting a criminal investigation into the incident, while the Ombudsman Commission is conducting its own separate investigation.

While the alleged attack took place in Galway, the garda at the centre of the case is based in Leinster and is originally from the Midlands.

Bob_Harris

The garda was believed to be driving in his car near University College Galway when he is alleged to have got out of the vehicle and chased after two women, aggressively groping one of them in an apparent random attack.

wtf?

mikom

The garda was believed to be driving in his car near University College Galway when he is alleged to have got out of the vehicle and chased after two women, aggressively groping one of them in an apparent random attack.

Sounds like a line of shite to be honest.
This has a back story.

snubbleste

mikom wrote: »

Sounds like a line of shite to be honest.
This has a back story.

Spot on mikom.
University College Galway ceased to exist in 1997

mikom

snubbleste wrote: »

Spot on mikom.
University College Galway ceased to exist in 1997

The garda was believed to be driving in his Delorean at 88 miles per hour near University College Galway when he is alleged to have got out of the vehicle and chased after two women, aggressively groping one of them in an apparent random attack.

Sorted.

Mrs OBumble

snubbleste wrote: »

University College Galway ceased to exist in 1997

There are still web servers that are called University College Galway, no reason the Irish Times can't be confused too.

In fairness, there's vastly more to pretty much every story you read in the papers.

It's not beyond imaging that a young-ish lad with a fetish or an aggression problem joined the Garda, and that in a moment of stress behaved inappropriately.

Elevator

jaysus!! what's the country coming to at all?!?

happyoutish

That just seems like a bizarre story!!! WTF?!?!?

Head The Wall

Not really, there's plenty of scumbag guards out there

Garda assault case dismissed

distraction

Head The Wall wrote: »

Not really, there's plenty of scumbag guards out there

Garda assault case dismissed

i hear that

try typing gardaí + case dismissed into google, crazy shieeeet

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0622/gardai.html

ronnie3585

Is this attack related to this attack?

ronnie3585

ronnie3585 wrote: »

Is this attack related to this attack?

Probably best not to jump to conclusions until we've figured everything out.

FouxDaFaFa

What a strange story.

While the alleged attack took place in Galway, the garda at the centre of the case is based in Leinster and is originally from the Midlands.

This confuses me even more. I'm guessing he was visiting Galway so?

brendansmith

FouxDaFaFa wrote: »

What a strange story.

This confuses me even more. I'm guessing he was visiting Galway so?

He was certainly out of his durisdiction, surely a local guard could have been assigned aggressive groping duty on the night in question.

stiffler123

Who watches the Watchmen?

helimachoptor

stiffler123 wrote: »

Who watches the Watchmen?

The watchmen watchers of course dummy !

poisonated

All too often rape acusations are made against people which turn out to be unfounded. This could be the case here...doubtful though

Wompa1

Where would he just park up? Did the woman have a wasp on her? Maybe he was going above and beyond the call of duty and saving her from a wasp?

Can't believe this was random, if so the Gardaí need to improve their screening for mental issues

Mrs OBumble

poisonated wrote: »

All too often rape acusations are made against people which turn out to be unfounded.

Source?

helimachoptor

You obviously havent been watching the Bob/Neasa story line in Fair City

In all seriousness there are women who will make this stuff up for whatever reason, on the flip side i believe there are far too many cases like this that go unreported.

mikom

poisonated wrote: »

All too often rape acusations are made against people which turn out to be unfounded. This could be the case here...doubtful though

JustMary wrote: »

Source?

To Kill a Mockingbird.

Dr McManus

I hope the guard is going to be alright.

jkforde

Dr McManus wrote: »

I hope the guard is going to be alright.

Huh? Do you mean you're concerned about their welfare in Garda custody?

TequilaMockingBird

This thread is an excellent example of why so many women don't report sexual assault.

bourgeois

JustMary wrote: »

Source?

See Purdue Professor Kanin's nine-year study published in 1994 concluding that over 40 percent of rape allegations were demonstrably false.

Rhamiel

people havin trouble believin it?? why?
Its not that otherworldly to just dismiss it.
stranger things have happened lads

Dr McManus

JustMary wrote: »

Source?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7dMGw3uzEU

thelongfellow

JustMary wrote: »

Source?

bourgeois wrote: »

See Purdue Professor Kanin's nine-year study published in 1994 concluding that over 40 percent of rape allegations were demonstrably false.

Surely this cannot be true?

old_aussie

mikom wrote: »

This has a back story.

It will (have a backside story)when he's in jail and the boys find out.

It will something for him to tell the grandkids.

elefant

What next? They'll be drive-by shootin's and it'll be like boys in the hood. And they'll be prosittutes on street corners, and the pimps will be using crack to keep the hoors under control.

inisboffin

thelongfellow wrote: »

Surely this cannot be true?

The Rape Crisis Centre commissioned a huge report in the last couple of years, can't link from phone, but google it an you'll find it. I believe the earlier figures quoted are vastly different. And that's not figuring in the huge amount of unreported rapes (unreported to authorities, obviously unreported to anyone is a whole other unknown)

Discodog

inisboffin wrote: »

The Rape Crisis Centre commissioned a huge report in the last couple of years, can't link from phone, but google it an you'll find it. I believe the earlier figures quoted are vastly different. And that's not figuring in the huge amount of unreported rapes (unreported to authorities, obviously unreported to anyone is a whole other unknown)

They would hardly be an independent, unbiased source.

Dr McManus

JustMary wrote: »

Source?

Google.

Mrs OBumble

bourgeois wrote: »

See Purdue Professor Kanin's nine-year study published in 1994 concluding that over 40 percent of rape allegations were demonstrably false.

I googled Prof Kanin, and got no sources that I'd regard as credible in the first three SERPs.

Wikipedia (sometimes good for facts, not credible for complex topics IMHO) is at the bottom of page 3, and even it suggests there has been serious rebuttal of his results. It also says his sample size was only 109, from a small US city (town? can't remember) between 1978 and 1987 - hardly large or widespread enough to be scientific.

I'm more inclined to go with N.S. Rumney's study in the Cambridge Law Journal that in this area ..."factual claims have been repeatedly made that have only limited empirical support."

There are some false claims. Possibly a higher proportion of false claims than in other areas (people have less incentive to falsely say that their house was burgled?).

But that does not mean that a large proportion of claims are false: the consequences for a person of reporting a sexual crime (even when it demonstrably DID happen) are significant, including robust questioning from police officers, invasive medical examinations, reactions from friends and neighbours, and even more robust questioning in court. Very little incentive there to make false claims.

Discodog

Did you look here :

http://falserapearchives.blogspot.com/2009/06/archives-of-sexual-behavior-feb-1994.html

It was top of the page when I entered Kanin 1994

I know of one horrific case where a father in foster family was accused by one of the foster daughters. The case was due for summing up & the defence were bracing the man to expect a very long sentence as the child was 12. A social worker was talking to the other daughter & she asked what would happen to the father. She then admitted that they had made the whole story up to try & get put back with their real mother. The case was dismissed but the guy had a nervous breakdown & has not worked or fostered since.

inisboffin

Discodog wrote: »

They would hardly be an independent, unbiased source.

Why? They have commissioned experts and had them analyse the numbers. They would be supplying the information, I assume numbers, and anonymously to look at the data. Are you inferring that the RCS are cooking the books or am I misunderstanding you?

bourgeois

JustMary wrote: »

I googled Prof Kanin, and got no sources that I'd regard as credible in the first three SERPs.

Wikipedia (sometimes good for facts, not credible for complex topics IMHO) is at the bottom of page 3, and even it suggests there has been serious rebuttal of his results. It also says his sample size was only 109, from a small US city (town? can't remember) between 1978 and 1987 - hardly large or widespread enough to be scientific.

I'm more inclined to go with N.S. Rumney's study in the Cambridge Law Journal that in this area ..."factual claims have been repeatedly made that have only limited empirical support."

There are some false claims. Possibly a higher proportion of false claims than in other areas (people have less incentive to falsely say that their house was burgled?).

But that does not mean that a large proportion of claims are false: the consequences for a person of reporting a sexual crime (even when it demonstrably DID happen) are significant, including robust questioning from police officers, invasive medical examinations, reactions from friends and neighbours, and even more robust questioning in court. Very little incentive there to make false claims.

I don't regard your 'opinions' posted above as credible either. Obviously if you've done a study like the Professor and have the statistics to back up your claims I'd be more inclined to entertain them.

Discodog

The RCS will of put forward a hypothesis that the majority of complaints are genuine & that false reporting is rare. They will of asked the researchers to back up this claim.

Most research can be biased depending on what you are setting up to prove. How do you prove a false claim unless it is a clear cut case like the example that I gave ?.

inisboffin

Discodog wrote: »

The RCS will of put forward a hypothesis that the majority of complaints are genuine & that false reporting is rare. They will of asked the researchers to back up this claim.

Most research can be biased depending on what you are setting up to prove. How do you prove a false claim unless it is a clear cut case like the example that I gave ?.

Really? You really think that they will put forward this hypothesis? Why? To what end? Can you back up this statement please? It is unfounded in my opinion. The reports they have commissioned was huge, it was all over the media. They was not just about the instances of reporting but about exactly how they were dealt with in the criminal justice system. How many reports were dismissed because people dropped the case, how many cases were dropped because legal errors, statute of limitations, physical evidence in relation to later reporting, burden of proof etc. The variables were many.

We are going WAY off topic with this subject given the thread title, it either needs a discussion in one of the other fora, or if you want, PM me and I can forward you links when I get home (am travelling). A good friend works often dealing with the legality of such cases, so I can get links to studies if you are interested.

Discodog

Only the RCS can answer that but you have to give researchers certain criteria. A counsellor at an RCS is never going to question or doubt the statement of an alleged victim neither are many Gardai. They are trained to take evidence & then let a Court decide. They are also rightly trained to be empathetic to the alleged victim. If you believed that a proportion of allegations might be false you probably wouldn't work for a RCS.
I might add that I think that they do a superb job.

Rape/sexual assault is a terrible crime & deserves the harshest sentence. But a false allegation is also a terrible crime & it does happen. One of the stated reasons for a false allegation is the compensation that can be claimed.

inisboffin

Discodog wrote: »

Only the RCS can answer that but you have to give researchers certain criteria. A counsellor at an RCS is never going to question or doubt the statement of an alleged victim neither are many Gardai. They are trained to take evidence & then let a Court decide. They are also rightly trained to be empathetic to the alleged victim. If you believed that a proportion of allegations might be false you probably wouldn't work for a RCS.
I might add that I think that they do a superb job.

Rape/sexual assault is a terrible crime & deserves the harshest sentence. But a false allegation is also a terrible crime & it does happen. One of the stated reasons for a false allegation is the compensation that can be claimed.

I just took issue with the way you came across about the motives behind this study. You say above that only the RCS would know the reasons, but I think the reasons behind and the finding of their studies are very transparent to the public. You should read it, there are many interesting findings connected to your comment regarding who questions victim credibility, they are quite shocking answers across the board, from family members to the police to the courts. I completely agree with you discodog, that false reporting is horrible, not only for the accused, but also for how it influences the perception of genuine cases. If you wish for more information. As someone else mentioned, it would be naieve at best to false report for financial gain, given the protocol that would ensue. I think I have said enough off topic now,please PM me if you need me to point you to more info, but the links to reports should pop up on google or the rcs site itself.

Martty81

snubbleste wrote: »

University College Galway ceased to exist in 1997

Sorry, can't let this pedantic pat moment pass but I attended UCG up to 2001 and it was still called that until at least 2002-2003.

Dr McManus

bourgeois wrote: »

I don't regard your 'opinions' posted above as credible either. Obviously if you've done a study like the Professor and have the statistics to back up your claims I'd be more inclined to entertain them.

I totally agree.
I am with Professor Kanin on this one.

Discodog

The Dublin RCS Press Release 2009 stated that 68 cases were dropped for various reasons & that 9 of these were because of false or malicious allegations. The RCS give the impression that false reporting is virtually non existent when these figures show it at 13%.

I reiterate that I totally support the work of the RCS - I have even fund raised for them !. But I will stick to my view that they may not be the best source of unbiased research.

inisboffin

Discodog wrote: »

The Dublin RCS Press Release 2009 stated that 68 cases were dropped for various reasons & that 9 of these were because of false or malicious allegations. The RCS give the impression that false reporting is virtually non existent when these figures show it at 13%.

I reiterate that I totally support the work of the RCS - I have even fund raised for them !. But I will stick to my view that they may not be the best source of unbiased research.

Grand, have to agree to differ then, and I think we can all see that 13% is quite different to 40%

Discodog

This is what I mean about unbiased reporting. The 13% does not include people that were acquitted or the cases that were unproven. Add those & the figure will be higher.

In law for someone to be acquitted of rape there has to of been a false allegation.

inisboffin

I recommend that people look at the reports themselves as I think this thread is quite misleading,

Between the original article stating 'it wasn't in the context of a date' (would it have been ok then??) and this thread, some attitudes are very depressing. No wonder report rates are low
Maybe every time someone has something stolen we should post 'ah sure they're probably making it up for attention'

Discodog

inisboffin wrote: »

I recommend that people look at the reports themselves as I think this thread is quite misleading,

The report that I am referring to is here:

http://www.drcc.ie/about/press_archive/press_20090429.htm

I am not speaking for other posters but I would want any rape or assault victim to be given the utmost support & any rapist sent to prison for a very long time.

All I am pointing out is that false allegations do occur & that possibility must be part of dispensing justice. Rape is unusual in that in can result in very severe penalties but a conviction may rely on the testimony of only the two people involved.

Discodog

Discodog wrote: »

All I am pointing out is that false allegations do occur & that possibility must be part of dispensing justice. Rape is unusual in that in can result in very severe penalties but a conviction may rely on the testimony of only the two people involved.

Right, but it doesn't need to be brought up every time a rape is reported or discussed. Rape reports are already unbelievably low, and brought to court even lower.