Man found not guilty of threatening to kill garda
A jury of eight men and four women were empanelled to determine a verdict.
A man appeared in court recently over allegations that he made threats to “kill and cut up” a local Garda Siochána officer.
Wayne Drummey (39), of 31 Lisfennel Close, Dungarvan, was charged with one count of threatening to cause harm or kill Garda James Fenton.
A jury of eight men and four women were empanelled to determine a verdict.
The trial took place at Waterford Circuit Court before Judge Eugene O’Kelly.
On May 8, 2018, members of the Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) met with Wayne Drummey’s partner in Lawlor’s Hotel to hear details about a complaint she was making against An Garda Siochána over an incident.
Two investigating members from GSOC were present for the meeting. Wayne Drummey attended alongside his partner in a supportive role.
During the interview, the GSOC officers said they noticed Drummey becoming increasingly agitated and he had to be asked to refrain from making interjections.
It was alleged that he made numerous derogatory and threatening comments directed at local Garda Siochána officer James Fenton.
He allegedly referred to Garda Fenton as a “sex pest”.
He was also alleged to have made comments about Garda Fenton's physical stature, saying he suffered from “small man syndrome”.
Towards the end of the interview, it was alleged by the GSOC officers that Wayne Drummey stood up and said he was going to “kill and cut up” Garda Fenton if the outcome of the complaint being made to the Ombudsman Commission was not to his and his partner's satisfaction.
He also allegedly said that he would be happy to spend time in prison for doing so.
The two GSOC officers made an official statement to Gardaí on August 24, 2018, and Wayne Drummey was subsequently arrested.
Whilst providing evidence to the court last week, an investigating garda member described Drummey as being “argumentative, agitated and animated” during his arrest.
Upon arrival at Dungarvan Garda Station, Drummey was interviewed by gardaí.
An abridged written memo of the interview was read aloud for the jury on day two of the trial.
However, Defence Counsel for Drummey, Mr. Tom Giles Kelly BL, said that his client also wanted the entirety of the DVD recording of the interview to be played for the jury.
During the interview, Drummy described the allegations against him as “a load of baloney.”
Following the conclusion of evidence, the jury panel returned a verdict of not guilty.
