IRELAND
Irish Times
Lawyers for the State have told a jury that a garda on trial for allegedly forging a letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was lying to the point of no return.
Wicklow Det Garda Catherine McGowan (48), who is based at Bray Garda station, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of forgery on January 15th, 2009 at Bray Garda station and two counts of using a false instrument at Bray Garda station and at Harcourt Street Garda station between June 21st and 22nd, 2011.
The instrument is alleged to have been a letter from the office of the DPP, dated January 14th, 2009, directing that there be no prosecution in a clerical child abuse case.
The letter read: “Dear Sir, I (illegible) to yours. In (illegible) the statement of the complainant…could not possibly form the basis of a prosecution given that the complainant’s allegation of rape is only conjecture.”
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