High Court hears claim that autistic man was falsely imprisoned

The aunt of a man with autism is suing the gardai – claiming that they falsely imprisoned and assaulted her nephew in Co. Donegal.
The High Court has heard that the 27 year old was arrested in September two years ago – for allegedly chasing two girls with a stick.
It’s alleged that the then 25 year old man was wrongfully and unlawfully arrested in Co Donegal and forcibly detained with handcuffs behind his back.
His family say this caused him trauma and upset and they claim no effort was made by officers to contact his parents or inquire of neighbours as to who he was.
They say he’s limited physical boundaries because of his autism and they dispute the location where gardai say they arrested him, as well as the allegation that he was chasing two girls with a stick.
The court heard his mother frantically searched for him and was shocked to find him detained at a garda station under the Mental Health Act where gardai refused to immediately release him.
It’s claimed the Garda Ombudsman Commission has received no response to a complaint lodged by his mother 18 months ago.
Now the man’s aunt is suing for damages including aggravated, punitive and exemplary damages for false imprisonment, assault and breach of his right to liberty.