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City Hall in Waterford. Alamy

Chairman asks woman to not discuss Garda complaint at local authority's policing meeting

He said that while she suffered an “absolutely life-changing experience”, it would not be appropriate to discuss the case in public.

A WOMAN WHO came upon a man killed outside her house has told a public meeting on policing in Waterford that she now “suffers PTSD” from witnessing the scene. 

She alleged she had been “let down” by her local council and “by members of An Garda Síochána” on a night in the county in July 2018. 

The chair of the meeting, Seán Aylward, who is a former secretary general of the Department of Justice and director of the Irish Prison Service, told the woman that he was sorry for the “suffering she encountered and the sad loss of a human being” in connection with the incident, but he said that it could not be discussed in a public forum. 

The woman said she has spoken to the Garda Ombudsman – GSOC – in relation to the incident. 

She named the victim who died as Jack Power – the 25-year-old fisherman was fatally stabbed by Dean Kerrie (21) after entering Kerrie’s home in the middle of the night in Shanakiel, Dunmore East.

Sentencing hearing

At a sentencing hearing last October, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said Kerrie was entitled to use force in defence of himself, his family and his home, but the force he used was “grossly” excessive given that Power was unarmed.

Kerrie was jailed for three-and-a-half years by the Central Criminal Court after a jury convicted him of manslaughter.

The policing meeting, which took place last Monday night in Waterford’s City Hall, is part of a pilot project by the Department of Justice called the Community Safety Partnership.

It was attended by senior and middle ranking gardaí in Waterford, members of Waterford City and County Council and a representative of the Policing Authority.

Addressing the meeting, which allowed some questions from members of the public, the woman said she suffers post-traumatic stress disorder following the incident.

“I still look for street lights outside my house. The paramedics told me afterwards, they were able to work on the victim – who sadly passed – because I had a sensor light,” she told the room.

“I am a victim of PTSD because Waterford City and County Council and members of An Garda Síochána let me down because of that night in July when I had to go through that.”

Aylward interjected as the woman spoke, saying that while he believed she suffered an “absolutely life-changing experience”, it would not be appropriate to discuss the case further in public.

“The personal experiences that you’re talking to there, in a public forum, it’s unfortunately a very personal case and it wouldn’t be fair on me to put the guards on the spot,” he said.

“I’m really sorry for the suffering that you encountered and the sad loss of a human being there, but this isn’t the forum where we could pursue a case as personal as that.”

He added that she had spoken “her truth”, and advised her to bring the issue to independent agencies.

“I do want to say that in the way our society and our institution are structured, there are formal and independent bodies charged with taking up any direct complaint about Garda performance in relation to an individual case, where there’s been alleged [sic] a failure of duty. They are the forum who would pursue any valid complaint,” Aylward said.

“You clearly had an absolutely life-changing experience and I want to express my sympathy to you, but I can’t really take it further than that here tonight. It wouldn’t be fair to you or to anybody involved in the process.”

The woman said she had spoken to GSOC about the matter and thanked Aylward before the meeting carried on with other business.

When contacted, a spokesman for GSOC said it does not comment on or confirm the existence of complaints in order to “protect both complainants and those complained of”.

The Garda Press Office has been contacted for comment.

Waterford City and County Council said it could not comment on an individual case and said that the issue was one for gardaí.

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    Mute alphanautica
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    May 8th 2017, 7:45 AM

    Le Pen may have lost, but % support is increasing dramatically. Just like Sinn Fein, it is only a matter of time.

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    Mute Barry Somers
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    May 8th 2017, 7:51 AM

    @alphanautica: of course the partys are not alike, le pens party is full of racists, shes tried to change its image but the mask keeps slipping.

    51
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    Mute Nick Allen
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    May 8th 2017, 7:55 AM

    @alphanautica:

    Its cyclical and they will lose support over time, look at UKIP in the local elections, completely destroyed

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    Mute alphanautica
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    May 8th 2017, 7:56 AM

    @Barry Somers: both parties do their best to distance themselves from their extreme xenophobic genesis, so they’re not that different. Thankfully the ‘Brits Out’ etc days are over.

    13
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    Mute Willy Malone
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    May 8th 2017, 8:36 AM

    @alphanautica: Our elite congratulations all round , for a man who sees Ireland as a problem . Our corporate tax a major issue for his elitist Europe . Anything to keep elitist Europe in motion. Winds if change growing stronger as you say, only a matter of time ☺

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    Mute TehJurolan
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    May 8th 2017, 9:40 AM

    @Nick Allen: yes, but only after they had played a prominent part in achieving their goal of taking Britain out of the EU.

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    Mute Ryan Comiskey
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    May 8th 2017, 9:57 AM

    @alphanautica:
    Brexit 52-48: “Clear, decisive victory.”
    Trump 46-48: “The people have spoken.”
    Macron 66-34: “OMG France is so divided.”

    34
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    Mute GameOverMan
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    May 8th 2017, 10:13 AM

    @Willy Malone: of course its only a matter of time. And when they’re in, it’ll be a matter of time before they’re out again. The systems not supposed to resolve anything… it has only to be maintained for maximum profit.

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    Mute Diarmuid
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    May 8th 2017, 10:31 AM

    @alphanautica: There are enough decent grown-ups in France and Ireland to keep know-nothing extremists out forever.

    18
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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    May 8th 2017, 12:59 PM

    @alphanautica: Before making any claims of FN support on the rise you should wait and see the results of the French Parliamentary Elections next month. In 1985 they reached a high watermark of 35 MP’s in the current Parliment they have 2 MP’s. If they can match or better their 1985 total then you could say they are on the rise. If they can’t, well it’s just a case of going nowhere.

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    Mute Patricia Cooney
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    May 8th 2017, 4:54 PM

    @Barry Somers: if their is no work and la pen wants to close borders you are racist.what next.

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    Mute Joshua Walsh
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    May 8th 2017, 7:59 AM

    Great to see the French people reject the hate that Le Pen spout.

    94
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    Mute cortisola
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    May 8th 2017, 11:43 AM

    @Joshua Walsh: There will be less and less support for her every year with growing Muslim population in France. She may never win.

    12
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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    May 8th 2017, 1:02 PM

    @cortisola: She has to survive the Parliamentary elections. If the FN don’t do better than her Father did in 85 with 35 seats the party will turn on her.

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    Mute
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    May 8th 2017, 8:19 AM

    God help France now with this political lightweight and apologist for Islamic terror in power.

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    Mute Diarmuid
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    May 8th 2017, 11:35 AM

    From an apologist for “republican” terror….

    Hypocrisy much?

    16
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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    May 8th 2017, 1:08 PM

    And what makes him a political lightweight? Coming out of nowhere and winning the Presidency from experienced and seasoned Politicians puts him right up in the Heavy Weight division as champion. And if you think he is a lightweight because of his lack of political experience then what does that make Trump a Bantamweight?

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    Mute George Orwell
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    May 8th 2017, 7:50 AM

    His wife gave him a well deserved pat on the head

    73
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    Mute The Thinker
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    May 8th 2017, 9:55 AM

    Glad to see France isn’t as easily led as the US and UK. There’s some hope yet

    30
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    Mute Diarmuid
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    May 8th 2017, 10:33 AM

    Fabulous day for France and Europe.

    The fascist wave is dying across Europe, just like it did in 1945.

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    Mute cortisola
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    May 8th 2017, 11:46 AM

    @Diarmuid: You’re are like these lunatics dancing end of islamic terror after US killed Binladen in 2011. You’ll never get it.

    16
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    Mute Lisa Dorothy
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    May 8th 2017, 3:14 PM

    @cortisola: Get what? That we have to think of it like it is us versus them? Because where has that attitude got us so far?

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    Mute No one
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    May 8th 2017, 7:33 AM

    I guess the French must be misogynist ??

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    May 8th 2017, 7:50 AM

    @No one: no they’re just less racist.

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    Mute GameOverMan
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    May 8th 2017, 10:20 AM

    @Deborah Behan: …speaking of racists theres Geert doing his best impression of every defeated cartoon villain ever… well done Geert, well done.

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    Mute David Harries
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    May 8th 2017, 8:59 AM

    I wounder could trump find France on a map

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    Mute Ó Connmhaigh
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    May 8th 2017, 11:42 AM

    @David Harries:
    First, he’d have to find a map

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    Mute Dáithí Ó Raghallaigh
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    May 8th 2017, 9:07 AM

    Donald trump may actually have prevented Le Pen grabbing power, People have discovered that voting is racist nutters actually offers no solutions either.

    24
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    Mute Lisa Dorothy
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    May 8th 2017, 3:13 PM

    @Dáithí Ó Raghallaigh: And that is it in essence. Without an overhaul of the system nothing will significantly change no matter who you vote in. So people don’t fall for populist politicians like Trump – they will achieve as much or less than their establishment counterparts.

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    Mute Plus Prom
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    May 8th 2017, 10:32 AM

    I can’t believe all these so-called liberals celebrating the perpetuation of the patriarchy. I guess France wasn’t ready for a female leader. Sad. #ImWithHer

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    Mute Ernest Grinkas
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    May 8th 2017, 11:24 AM

    @Plus Prom: Agree. Complete sexism. Very disappointed by french sexism..

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    Mute Aaron O'Leary
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    May 8th 2017, 1:21 PM

    @Plus Prom: So the US was sexist to elect Trump?

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    Mute Lisa Dorothy
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    May 8th 2017, 3:15 PM

    @Aaron O’Leary: That’s what I was wondering.

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    Mute cortisola
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    May 8th 2017, 11:47 AM

    Most of these congrats should be sent to Merkel really.

    13
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    Mute Yenreit
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    May 8th 2017, 12:16 PM

    @cortisola: Germany’s third invasion of France! Will they ever learn.

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    Mute cortisola
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    May 8th 2017, 1:47 PM

    @Yenreit: Soon all they need to learn will be Arabic and Quaran.

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    Mute Ibhar Mac Suibhne
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    May 8th 2017, 2:57 PM

    @cortisola: Hype up the anti-islam propaganda there sure!

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    Mute Philip Gerard
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    May 8th 2017, 4:37 PM

    @cortisola: Betterh than sending congrats to Putin, fascist tw@.

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    Mute Tosin Williams
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    May 8th 2017, 8:46 PM

    @cortisola: what language is quaran?

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    Mute Toon Army
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    May 8th 2017, 7:46 AM

    Interesting to see how Macron balances his overall centre right ideology with some watered down policies on education and EU reform. Suspect it will be the latter that takes a back seat but wish him all the best.

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    Mute Nick Allen
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    May 8th 2017, 8:33 AM

    @Toon Army:

    But more importantly, will Rafa be in charge come Aug. Well done yesterday

    8
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    Mute Gerry Fallon
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    May 8th 2017, 9:54 AM

    Theresa may congratulated him through gritted teeth.

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    Mute Paul Coughlan
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    May 8th 2017, 9:01 AM

    We now have a 39 year old French President married to a 63 year old woman. Merkel would need to watch out. We should replace Enda with an Edna and we would be sure of a listening ear in France. ❤️❤️

    7
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    Mute Larry Molloy
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    May 9th 2017, 11:48 AM

    The deep state are really nice people once you get to know them.

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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    May 8th 2017, 8:03 PM

    We will have five years of macronomics!!!!

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