Community service for garda sergeant convicted of assault

A garda sergeant has been ordered to complete 80 hours of community service after being found guilty of assault and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Sergeant William Doyle was convicted of the two charges at Waterford District Court, having pleaded not guilty at a previous sitting.

The case was taken by the Director of Public Prosecutions on foot of an investigation by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

The court heard evidence on a previous occasion that there was a “commotion” in a room at Waterford Garda Station on 9 March 2022 and that a slap was heard, while a prisoner accused of assault was being detained.

There was also evidence that Sgt Doyle, of Waterford Garda Station, was seen standing over the prisoner with his hands on their shoulders when other gardaí returned to the room in question.

The prisoner immediately said that he had been assaulted by the sergeant.

Garda Rachel Pratt told the court previously that when she asked Sgt Doyle, who was her superior officer, what she should put in the custody record in relation the incident, he told her not to mention what had happened in the room and to say that he was trying to “restrain” the prisoner.

The sergeant denied this and denied assault.

Judge John O’Leary found him guilty of both charges and said that he should complete 80 hours of community service, in lieu of a prison term of four months, in relation to the attempting to pervert the course of justice charge, which he said was the more serious count.

He took the assault charge into consideration for sentencing purposes.

The judge indicated that recognaisances in the event of an appeal would be €500 in the defendant’s own bond.