Kildare judge criticises gardaí for not investigating allegation and 'passing the buck'

The sitting judge criticised the gardaí for not investigating an allegation of assault.

A woman alleged in the court that her former partner, who is the father of her child, had grabbed her by the head and pulled her.

The man was not president or represented at the hearing at Naas District Court.

The woman told the court she had sustained bruising as a result and added the man does not live with her.

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“I need him gone. He was never that physical with me before,” she told Judge Desmond Zaidan.

Judge Zaidan told the woman: “You made an allegation of an assault and the gardaí passed the buck and (told you) to go to the family law court.”

The judge added: "This is very serious, the gardaí must open a criminal investigation.”

He said an alleged assault carried out by a stranger shouldn't be treated differently from an incident allegedly involving a loved one.

He said an assault reportedly committed by a loved one “is more serious.”

The judge granted an interim protection order and adjourned the case for a fuller hearing on May 25.