Garda found guilty of sexually assaulting and sexually harassing female colleagues

jonsnow · 02-11-2013 01:23AM #1

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/garda-found-guilty-of-sexually-harassing-female-colleagues-1.1581174

A serving Garda has been found guilty of sexual assault and harassment in a trial involving two of his female colleagues.

Garda Kevin Corby was found guilty of two charges of harassment and one charge of sexual assault on dates in 2010 and 2011 in Co Donegal.He was found not guilty of five further charges of sexual assault while another charge of sexual assault was struck out earlier in the trial.The three day trial heard graphic evidence of how the two female gardaí were both sexually assaulted and harassed by Corby.

Corby, who is in his 30s, faced seven charges of sexual assault and two charges of harassment but one of the charges of sexual assault was withdrawn by Judge John O’Hagan. The incidents happened simultaneously over a number of months in 2010 and 2011. The court heard how the married officer insulted the women about their sex-life and their weight.

The women said they dreaded going to work because of the alleged harassment and one of them even tried to take her own life. He jibed them about needing to “get a good ride” and not eating too much or they wouldn’t get a man.

The court also heard how Corby, on two different occasions, pushed them along a corridor in a swivel chair and pushed his groin up against them.
He was said to have pushed himself up against one of the women form behind and she could feel his erect penis pressing against her.One of the women also claimed that he put his hand into her garda vest on one occasion and touched her breast.

On another occasion, while in a patrol car, Corby put his hand on one of the female Garda’s leg and then moved it up towards her groin area and told her if her husband didn’t do it then he would.

However, the court also heard from three different male gardaí who also worked with Corby in the same station. One of the gardaí said he had never heard such remarks in his numerous years as a serving member.
Another said he told Corby to give it a break after he “crossed the line” with the female colleagues.

Summing up, barrister for Corby, Peter Nolan said the case was a “storm in a teacup” and “political correctness gone mad”. He also referred to the fact that one of the female gardaí had bought Corby red Santa boxer shorts as a present for Christmas – just weeks after some of the alleged incidents.
“If you are going to join the guards then you have to be able for a bit of banter. This is a ridiculous case for prosecution to bring before the people of Ireland.

“If we were all to be done for putting our hands on someone’s knee then we would all be in jail,” he said.But State barrister Patricia McLaughlin asked the jury that if it was their wife, daughter or sister, would they not think it was indecent.Judge John O’Hagan said he would pass sentence in January.He released Corby on his continuing bail for a probation, welfare and community service reports and also ordered victim impact statements.

Seems to be going around...

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/garda-sergeant-avoids-jail-for-sexually-assaulting-female-colleague-29337178.html

kerry4sam · 02-11-2013 01:29AM

I saw it on highland right here, but yeah, not the first of a case of this situation. Ireland's finest An Garda Síochána. The PR department don't be long in responding with good news stories and pumping up the organisation with good newsies; but in cases like this where negative stories appear more and more frequently, little is said by them.

You wouldn't find Surgeons hitting headlines when they do remarkable work, yet this organisation feels to need to constantly make headlines outlining the fact that they do their paid jobs.

Nothing surprising about this case here for me, nothing! Don't forget recruitment next year, you get to risk having to work in this environment; being bullied and sexually harassed! Wonderful selling point!

wazky · 02-11-2013 01:31AM

kerry4sam wrote: »

Nothing surprising about this case here for me, nothing! Don't forget recruitment next year, you get to risk having to work in this environment; being bullied and sexually harassed! Wonderful selling point!

Well what I find surprising is that if anyone else told a Ban Garda the she "needs a good ride", then you wake up sometime in March.

Zen65 · 02-11-2013 01:41AM

jonsnow wrote: »

“If we were all to be done for putting our hands on someone’s knee then we would all be in jail,” he said.

Say what?

Perhaps the barrister works in an office where such things are normal. Frankly I would be creeped out at the idea of putting my hands on anyone's knee in the manner described.

Cee-Jay-Cee · 02-11-2013 01:43AM

kerry4sam wrote: »

Nothing surprising about this case here for me, nothing! Don't forget recruitment next year, you get to risk having to work in this environment; being bullied and sexually harassed! Wonderful selling point!

Come on now, that's being a bit sensationalist. You can be guaranteed that there have been bullying, harassment cases and sexual offenders employed in almost every type of career/job/trade there is so if we were to apply your line of thinking, no one would ever apply for any job anywhere...and doesn't the fact that he was prosecuted and convicted not suggest that it's not tolerated?

NoClues · 02-11-2013 01:44AM

Well he sounds like a barrel of laughs anyway

pharmaton · 02-11-2013 01:46AM

jonsnow wrote: »

He also referred to the fact that one of the female gardaí had bought Corby red Santa boxer shorts as a present for Christmas – just weeks after some of the alleged incidents.

does anybody else find this (if true) a bit weird?

Karl Stein · 02-11-2013 01:53AM

I feel sorry for his victims. One of them said she'd vomit in the morning at the thought of going to work and having to face the lecherous creep. That's little short of psychological torture.

I hope he does time.

seenitall · 02-11-2013 01:56AM

I wonder what his wife makes of it all.

131spanner · 02-11-2013 02:00AM

jonsnow wrote: »

If you are going to join the guards then you have to be able for a bit of banter.

Sexual Assault = Banter.

Well, you'd learn something new every day.

WindSock · 02-11-2013 02:05AM

pharmaton wrote: »

does anybody else find this (if true) a bit weird?

That she bought a common Santa themed novelty present at Christmas time? Not really. Ah but sure it's just lads having the craic. Or the banter as its now called. I'm sure the women are just having the banter back by making allegations of unwanted physical contact and being remarked to on a constant basis.

timmy4u2 · 02-11-2013 02:08AM

pharmaton wrote: »

does anybody else find this (if true) a bit weird?

That is extremely weird. If the charge(s) concerning that Garda was one of charges that stuck me thinks this case will reappear.
From the remarks of the Judge on the charge he threw out it would appear that he was not impressed with the evidence and the jury concurred with him on the majority of the charges.

I guess they must have thought that they were padding in that throw enough mud and some is bound to stick

loveBBhate · 02-11-2013 02:09AM

pharmaton wrote: »

does anybody else find this (if true) a bit weird?

Yes, upon reading a description of the item from a given source, I find it very weird. Apparently there was a 'Santa hat shape' at the front of the garmented item of clothing with a little bobble and bell at the end where by the user would insert his penis in to, thus acting as a 'willy warmer'.

That said, I call bullsh1t on that one.

timmy4u2 · 02-11-2013 02:12AM

Sitec wrote: »

“If you are going to join the guards then you have to be able for a bit of banter. This is a ridiculous case for prosecution to bring before the people of Ireland"

Bollocks. You're supposed to represent the Irish law.

I suppose he was playing on what the Judge had said earlier before he dismissed one of the charges

02-11-2013 02:12AM

Who doesn't need a good ride now and then though? :pac: Also the "PC gone mad" thing only works with UK police officers, the barrister really dropped the ball with that one.
Will he be out on his arse then for the conviction?

pharmaton · 02-11-2013 02:15AM

WindSock wrote: »

That she bought a common Santa themed novelty present at Christmas time? Not really. Ah but sure it's just lads having the craic. Or the banter as its now called. I'm sure the women are just having the banter back by making allegations of unwanted physical contact and being remarked to on a constant basis.

and two and two makes five.

April O Neill · 02-11-2013 02:33AM

pharmaton wrote: »

does anybody else find this (if true) a bit weird?

If true, yes, very much so.

April O Neill · 02-11-2013 02:38AM

WindSock wrote: »

That she bought a common Santa themed novelty present at Christmas time? Not really. Ah but sure it's just lads having the craic. Or the banter as its now called. I'm sure the women are just having the banter back by making allegations of unwanted physical contact and being remarked to on a constant basis.

But in the article, it says that the boxers were bought a few weeks after some of the alleged incidents took place. That's the weird bit for me.

timmy4u2 · 02-11-2013 02:41AM

April O Neill wrote: »

If true, yes, very much so.

I would imagine that it would not be brought up in court if it was not true, and if it was not true it would be vehemently denied.
I think the legacy of ex Superintendent John O'Connor (whom Judge Morris singled out as the main perpetrator for all that happened in Donegal)still lives on.
He was not prosecuted for the harassment he organised of civilian and garda alike.
Was a female Garda's house not unlawfully raided at that time.
Queer times afoot

LETHAL LADY · 02-11-2013 02:47AM

Current serving members as at September 2013
Commissioner: 1
Deputy Commissioner: 1
Assistant Commissioner: 8
Chief Superintendent: 44
Superintendent: 151
Inspector: 273
Sergeant: 1,874
Garda: 10,807
Total: 13,159

Considering the size of the force, two cases is hardly shocking and there are dickheads in all walks of life to be fair. Don't really get ya OP, are you disgusted by sexual harassment in the workplace or are you taking a pop at all gardai?

timmy4u2 · 02-11-2013 02:49AM

seenitall wrote: »

I wonder what his wife makes of it all.

In the interest of decency and privicy she should not be mentioned in this.
Her feelings are not of any concern to anybody unless she chooses to make them public.

timmy4u2 · 02-11-2013 02:52AM

April O Neill wrote: »

But in the article, it says that the boxers were bought a few weeks after some of the alleged incidents took place. That's the weird bit for me.

?...and I think for all of us who look at this on its merits and not from a cop bashing opportunistic perspective

jamesr123 · 02-11-2013 03:02AM

She tried to take her own life? Surely she could have reported this behaviour to someone sooner?

As I said in another post recently the amount of garda going before the courts lately is scary

WindSock · 02-11-2013 03:04AM

I don't know, I just don't see how novelty Santa boxers equate to something sexual, it's hardly lingerie. If there was a santa hat codpiece stitched in, then yeah, that's more odd. Considering he allegedly rubbed his bobby's helmet on one of them.

timmy4u2 · 02-11-2013 03:12AM

WindSock wrote: »

I don't know, I just don't see how novelty Santa boxers equate to something sexual, it's hardly lingerie. If there was a santa hat codpiece stitched in, then yeah, that's more odd. Considering he allegedly rubbed his bobby's helmet on one of them.

But....correct me if I am wrong, and maybe I am as I just jumped on to a moving bus, but my understanding is that the alleged victim bought this suggestive toy for the alleged offender some weeks after the alleged assault.
Now the question to be asked here is what changed her mind, or perhaps who changed her mind in thelong term.

pharmaton · 02-11-2013 03:13AM

April O Neill wrote: »

But in the article, it says that the boxers were bought a few weeks after some of the alleged incidents took place. That's the weird bit for me.

That's what I was thinking but I suppose without full knowledge of the case there's not much to go on and with two female colleagues bringing charges it's not very clear how (or to whom) it relates wrt the disclosed harassment.
If it was a situation where that kind of carry on was so endemic that it was practically normalised I might be able to understand why she felt it would be an appropriate gesture but tbh if I were in a situation which made me physically ill due to the nature of the assaults, I can't imagine buying the perp a nice pair of santa boxers for Christmas as a token of my appreciation.
I'm just trying to get my head around it.

timmy4u2 · 02-11-2013 03:24AM

pharmaton wrote: »

That's what I was thinking but I suppose without full knowledge of the case there's not much to go on and with two female colleagues bringing charges it's not very clear how (or to whom) it relates wrt the disclosed harassment.
If it was a situation where that kind of carry on was so endemic that it was practically normalised I might be able to understand why she felt it would be an appropriate gesture but tbh if I were in a situation which made me physically ill due to the nature of the assaults, I can't imagine buying the perp a nice pair of santa boxers for Christmas as a token of my appreciation.
I'm just trying to get my head around it.

Coupled with that the judge threw out one charge with a very suggestive comment and the jury threw out Five charges so that is just two charges out of seven survived over the first hurdle. That is a percentage... now what is 2 over 7 as a percentage. It is very low, too low to instill confidence in the prosecution and its methods.
Asks too many questions I think.

pharmaton · 02-11-2013 03:35AM

timmy4u2 wrote: »

Coupled with that the judge threw out one charge with a very suggestive comment and the jury threw out Five charges so that is just two charges out of seven survived over the first hurdle. That is a percentage... now what is 2 over 7 as a percentage. It is very low, too low to instill confidence in the prosecution and its methods.
Asks too many questions I think.

It does but I don't even know from which direction. Lets not forget the Garda in question was found guilty on some specific charges. I would genuinely be concerned though if sexual harassment was that systemic that anyone on the receiving end of it would feel compelled to play along less they be consigned to the non team player rubbish dump.
tbh I'd probably have been a bit more imaginative with my Christmas present.

02-11-2013 11:11AM

Did she buy them as a kris kringle and it ended up being him maybe

bohsboy · 02-11-2013 11:20AM

Five years ago he was king of his parish. The fool.

http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/donegal-news/kinlough-16-04-09-1-1992113

Santa Cruz · 02-11-2013 12:02PM

At least when the two Gardaí made their complaint it was investigated and charges came through. In a lot of other jobs females are subject to continuous harassment and are afraid to make complaints because it would damage their careers.

While we are on the topic whatever happened in PWC with the lads who were circulating e mails rating the new female staff?

Garda found guilty of sexually assaulting and sexually harassing female colleagues

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