13 May 1999 Edition
Cobh councillor harassed
Cobh Sinn Féin Councillor Kieran McCarthy has sought legal advice with a view to taking a civil action against the gardai and the DPP after he was charged last week with threatening behaviour. The Cobh man says the entire affair is designed to hinder his election campaign.
McCarthy was arrested on Thursday morning, May 6 and brought before a judge to face the charge, which relates to an incident alleged to have taken place last September. He vehemently insists that he was nowhere near the home of the Middleton women who made the complaint against him and says ``it is an utter disgrace that the DPP allowed sections of the gardai to pursue this case after it was made clear to him over six months ago by the original investigating detective that there was no case to answer. He believes the charge is intended to hinder his election to Cork County Council and try to prevent him retaining his UDC seat. McCarthy and fellow Sinn Féin members picketed Cobh garda station in protest on Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 and 12 May.
McCarthy was arrested on Thursday morning, May 6 and brought before a judge to face the charge, which relates to an incident alleged to have taken place last September. He vehemently insists that he was nowhere near the home of the Middleton women who made the complaint against him and says ``it is an utter disgrace that the DPP allowed sections of the gardai to pursue this case after it was made clear to him over six months ago by the original investigating detective that there was no case to answer. He believes the charge is intended to hinder his election to Cork County Council and try to prevent him retaining his UDC seat. McCarthy and fellow Sinn Féin members picketed Cobh garda station in protest on Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 and 12 May.