Court victory for anti-drugs activists
By Conor Marshall
The case against three Dublin anti-drugs activists charged with
assault was dismissed in court on Friday 25 July. The three men,
Cecil Johnston, Michael Warner and Dennis Brunt, all from
Killinarden in West Tallaght, were arrested on 4 November 1996.
Since their arrest, they had made 16 court appearances, were
subjected to harsh bail condititions, and suffered unrelenting
harrassment and intimidation by the Special Branch and Tallaght
based detectives. They were charged with being part of a group of
seven men, four wearing balaclavas, who allegedly assaulted a
Killinarden resident. The three activists were ``identified'' as
the non-masked attackers. The attacked man in question, the
State's main witness, attempted several times to withdraw his
comments and said openly in court that he had been intimidated
into naming the three men by the Gardai. He said, ``the Guards
told me that if I didn't do what I was told, that I'd be in
trouble for the rest of my life.''
On one occasion, when asked in court if he had been intimidated
by the three activists, he instead pointed to two detectives and
said that they had been making his life a misery through constant
harrassment and intimidation. The judge ordered the court
recorder to strike out his comments.
The DPP representative then stated that they would not pursue the
case, due to lack of evidence. When the detectives were asked if
there was evidence of any intimidation on the three men they
admitted there was none. The judge, however, stated that in his
opinion, there was evidence that intimidation had taken place,
and ordered the case to be put forward.
The bail conditions required all three men having to sign on in
the Garda Station every day. The reason given was that one the
men was seen walking and running aggressively through the
community. The man in question teaches community children
running.
Cecil Johnston's house was raided by the Gardai on the night of
his arrest. During the raid, ornaments were smashed and the
furnishings generally abused. Johnston's son attempted to stop
them and was roughly pushed aside. When Johnston challenged the
Gardai he was punched and then charged with obstruction of
justice. He promptly said he was going to press charges of
assault against the Gardai. They then attempted to do a deal with
him, offering to drop the obstruction of justice charge if he
dropped the assault charge. Johnston refused. All charges were
eventually dropped due to lack of evidence.
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