Ireland Retired garda says he cannot deny injuring woman in Galway station, court hears
Denise Callinan, 28, a teacher from Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim, is suing the Garda Commissioner in the High Court over an alleged injury to her arm sustained at Mill Street Garda station, Galway, on 19 October 2019. Retired garda inspector Brendan Moore, who was a sergeant at the time, told the jury he has no recollection of the incident and cannot deny lifting her arm too far.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court3 Feb
5 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports40 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDenise Callinan was a 23-year-old physical education and biology teacher at the time of the incident (irishtimes.com)
- whatAn X-ray found she had suffered a spiral fracture of her left humerus (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe pleaded guilty to resisting arrest on the night of 19 October (irishtimes.com)
- whatCallinan claims a male garda twisted her arm until it broke at Millstreet Garda station (irishtimes.com)
- whatCallinan is suing the Garda Commissioner for damages (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe fracture had healed well and treatment is routine and non-invasive (irishtimes.com)
- whatCallinan did not appear to be in physical discomfort when taken away in a Garda van (irishtimes.com)
- whatA psychiatrist treated Callinan for a psychotic episode in September 2020 and made no reference to the alleged assault (irishtimes.com)
- whatCallinan had an eight-week hospital stay and was diagnosed with psychosis (irishtimes.com)
- whatCallinan was convicted of drunk and disorderly behaviour on the night of the incident (irishtimes.com)
- whatDenise Callinan is from Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim (irishmirror.ie, galwaybeo.ie)
- whatShe was 23 years old at the time of the incident (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe is 29 years old at the time of the court hearing (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe was subjected to a half-hour-long interrogation by five gardaí at Millstreet Garda Station (irishmirror.ie, galwaybeo.ie)
- whatAn x-ray showed she suffered a spiral fracture of her left humerus (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHer arm was placed in a cast for 8 weeks (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe could not work or engage in sport during the 8-week period (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe suffered severe mental health issues following the alleged assault (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe pleaded guilty to resisting arrest on the night of 19 October 2019 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAt the time of the incident she was a 23-year-old teacher of physical education and biology. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whatAn x-ray revealed a spiral fracture of her left humerus. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whatHer arm was placed in a cast for 8 weeks during which she could not work or engage in sport. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whatShe had played volleyball and football prior to the incident. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whatShe pleaded guilty to resisting arrest on the night of October 19. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whatCallinan claims her arm was twisted and broken by a male garda at the station. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCallinan was detained close to Eyre Square following an altercation with her brother before being brought to the station. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe interrogation took place at Millstreet Garda station in Galway city (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe altercation with her brother took place near Eyre Square in Galway city centre (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred in the early hours of 19 October 2019 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident allegedly occurred in the early hours of October 19, 2019 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred in the early hours of October 19, 2019. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whenThe incident at Mill Street Garda station, Galway, occurred on 19 October 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- courtShe is suing the Garda Commissioner seeking damages for the alleged assault (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is ongoing (irishtimes.com)
- courtShe sued the Garda Commissioner demanding damages for the alleged assault (irishmirror.ie, galwaybeo.ie)
- otherCallinan is 28 and from Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim (irishtimes.com)
- otherSeamus Breen is counsel for Callinan and David McGrath is barrister for the commissioner (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe trial was ongoing at the time of reporting (irishtimes.com)
- otherCallinan is seeking damages to compensate for the alleged injuries. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMoore spent 17 years in the force as a use-of-force instructor, training gardaí in restraint and public-order techniques. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 6 Feb2026Retired garda doesn’t deny injuring woman in station as he can’t recall incident, court hears
Article reports testimony from retired garda inspector Brendan Moore and Sgt Maire McGrath at the High Court trial of Callinan's civil action against the Garda Commissioner.
victim, Denise Callinan, 28, female, irish (judged from name)Denise Callinansuspect, Brendan Moore, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brendan Moore - 6 Feb2026Teacher claims Galway Garda 'twisted arm until it broke' following her arrest
Reports the plaintiff's testimony at the High Court trial, describing the alleged assault, the resulting spiral fracture, and the mental health consequences that followed.
victim, Denise Callinan, 29, female, irish (judged from name)Denise Callinansuspect, male - 6 Feb2026Teacher claims Garda 'twisted arm until it broke' following her arrest
Reports the plaintiff's testimony in the High Court, including her account of the alleged arm-twisting, the resulting spiral fracture, and the impact on her work and mental health.
victim, Denise Callinan, 29, female, irish (judged from name)Denise Callinansuspect, male - 5 Feb2026Teacher who claims arm broken by garda could not have sustained injury before her arrest, court told
First article covering the High Court trial of Denise Callinan's civil action against the Garda Commissioner over an alleged broken arm at Millstreet Garda station, Galway, in October 2019. Expert and witness testimony presented on the nature of the fracture and Callinan's condition at the time of arrest.
victim, Denise Callinan, 28, female, irish (judged from name)Denise Callinansuspect, male - 3 Feb2026Teacher ‘screamed in agony’ after Garda allegedly twisted arm until broken, court hears
Civil trial opened before Judge Tony O'Connor and a jury; Callinan testified about the alleged arm-breaking, the subsequent spiral fracture, and its mental-health aftermath.
victim, Denise Callinan, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Denise Callinansuspect, male, irish (judged from name)