Inspector Martin Byrne told Castlebar District Court on Wednesday that it “is not excessive” that one man has been stopped driving by gardaí 15 times from January 2010 to August 2010.
Allegations were made against Castlebar gardaí, during a case heard last year, involving Martin Chambers, 31 Hollow Grove, Castlebar, that he was being stitched up by them as Chambers felt that he was being stopped excessively.
Since the case was heard in October, Inspector Byrne wrote to Chambers on two occasions and asked the defendant to write down dates and times when he was stopped.
A reply by Chambers indicated 15 different times when he was stopped. Insp Byrne said that being stopped 15 times in a year “is not excessive” and that this “could not be regarded as harassment”.
The name of the garda, who allegedly while off-duty told Chambers that he was being “stitched up”, was also given to Insp Byrne by Chambers. The Insp interviewed the garda, who denies that any conversation took place.
The inspector said that “serious allegations” have been made against the gardaí in court and that the appropriate body to deal with such complaints is the Garda Ombudsman, however no complaint has been made.
Judge Mary Devins said that she was “taken aback” that the inspector thought being stopped 15 times is not excessive for road traffic. The judge further adjourned the case for mention to June 1.
