Jury selected in the trial of a garda charged with sexual assault and false imprisonment

By Isabel Hayes

A jury has been empanelled in the trial of a garda charged with the sexual assault and false imprisonment of a woman at a Wicklow garda station.

William Ryan (38), who was stationed at Aughrim Garda Station in Co Wicklow, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today.

He pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault and not guilty to one count of false imprisonment of a woman at Aughrim Garda Station, Main Street, Aughrim, Co Wicklow on September 29, 2020.

Judge Patricia Ryan told the jury panel that Mr Ryan is a serving member of An Garda Siochana.

The trial, which is expected to run for eight to nine days, will hear from a number of witnesses, including a number of gardaí, the court heard.

A Detective Chief Superintendent and a Detective Superintendent are on the witness list, the jury panel was told.

After the jury was sworn in, they were sent home for the day.

The trial is due to open tomorrow before Judge Elma Sheahan.