This article is from page 14 of the 2006-03-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
“He has gone through the normal
process. The decision was one of the GARDA Pat Keating, who was last Assistant Commissioner,” he said. month acquitted of threatening his Keating, a father-of-one, had deformer girlfriend, has been reinstatnied, during the Circuit Court trial, ed to his duties at Shannon Garda threatening his ex-girlfriend over the station. phone.
Eavan Drysdale told the jury she The 33-year-old, who hails from
felt her life was in danger due to a west Clare, went on trial at Ennis
threat from him. She said he told her Circuit Court, accused of threaten-
on the phone on August 18, 2004 ing mother-of-two Eavan Drysdale,
that she was the next Geraldine Kisover the phone, in August 2004. He
sane – a woman who was shot dead had been suspended from the force
by her ex-boyfriend in Shannon in since the allegations were made.
2001, before he then turned the gun The decision to reinstate him was
on himself. made last week by the Assistant Garda Commissioner in charge of Ms Drysdale said Garda Keating personnel, Catherine Clancy. It is had also phoned her to say: “I’m understood he will return to his dugoing down and you’re going down ties at Shannon Garda station tomorwith me.” row (Wednesday) evening, where he However Garda Keating said the has been based for most of his 10 allegations were “lies” and shattered years in the force. his career and his life.
A source close to Keating told The “She made a promise, going back Clare People that he was “delighted to day one that she was going to deto be returning to Shannon Garda stroy me. Regardless of what hapstation, having been under suspenpens here in court today or any day, sion for the past 19 months.” my career is in ruins.
His colleagues in the Garda Rep “My life is in ruins. She has been resentative Association (GRA) had successful,” he told the court in evicalled for his return to the force, in dence. the wake of the trial. They said it was Arising out of a separate incident, his right, given that he was acquitted Keating will appear before Ennis of the charge before the court. District Court next month, accused
Clare Chief Superintendent Liam of a public order offence in Shannon, Quinn confirmed to The Clare Peoin March 2004. That is a less serious ple this week that Garda Keating charge than that which he faced in had been reinstated. the Circuit Court.