A Garda superintendent who is facing a charge of assault contrary to Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Act has appeared before Dublin District Court. 

Superintendent Gavin O’Reilly denies that he assaulted the then manager of Pennylane cafe and bar, Emma Parks on the 26th of August 2023.

Parks claims that O’Reilly made a “racist slur” against a “coloured” security guard, and repeatedly called her a “bitch”, telling her she was “finished” with his “teeth bared” and “fits clenched”. 

The court heard that on the night in question Parks noticed three males at the bar who she said were causing “noise” and “leaning” against each other, before she asked them to “go and get a bite to eat” elsewhere, and that they would be “welcome” to return later on.

She said that the three men were “singing, shouting out, and pulling out of each other” and that she had “observed Gavin being the one who was leaning on the other two” claiming that he was “not able” to “stand without assistance”. 

Parks, who says she worked in the “gay scene” for 12 years, says that the men left without incident, before O’Reilly, who was off duty at the time, allegedly came back and “got in” her “face”, saying “You are never going to fucking work again, I’m going to get this place shut down” and “You’re fucking done, you’re fucking finished” with his fists “clenched tightly”. 

She told the court that O’Reilly had told him he was an inspector and that he knew the owner of the bar and that although she didn’t initially believe that O’Reilly was in fact a Garda, she felt “threatened” as “We’re [gay bars] a very small scene,”

Parks claims that O’Reilly continued to address her while showing “aggression” and that a security guard from Pennylane, and another from Panti Bar came to her assistance. 

She alleges that the O’Reilly made a “racial slur” against the “coloured” member of security staff from the Panti Bar, telling the court that the Garda said “Don’t touch me you black bastard.”

She says that at this point she used her phone to record O’Reilly saying that his words were “disgusting” if he really was a member of the force.

Parks said that she called the Gardaí asking for assistance and telling them she had been “assaulted” by someone who was claiming to be a “member” after O’Reilly “hit” her phone out of her hand in a “swiping” motion, causing it to fall to the ground. 

The former manager of Pennylane said that while she is 4’11’, O’Reilly is approximately 5’5′ in height.

She said that her finger was hit in the course of the phone being “hit” out of her hand, and that it was “red” for a period of time afterwards, but that she did not seek medical attention.

She said that the alleged incident left her “very shaken” and that she had to “take a week off work”. 

O’Reilly’s defending counsel, Garnet Orange SC, put it to parks that she had been “immediately hostile” towards the three men and that “messages were circulated” about them , which she denies, saying it was their “noise level and general demeanor” that made them stand out. 

While being shown CCTV footage from outside Penny Lane, Parks denied that O’Reilly had been “dragged” by the security guards and that he was “roughed up by them”. 

Mr. Orange claimed that Parks was “having a right good laugh at him” when he was on the ground and that she was “not in the slightest bit put out or worried” for his welfare. 

Parks disputed that O’Reilly was “restrained” in the course of the interaction, but on a 999 call to Gardaí gave a positive answer when asked if he was being “detained”. 

Mr. Orange put it to Parks that she had “grossly exaggerated what happened”, which she denies. 

The trial continues tomorrow at 11am before Judge John Hughes.