Garda assaulted teen joyrider with ‘gratuitous' knee to stomach as he arrested him
The youth had already surrendered following a pursuit and was being restrained when Garda Dean Chapman struck him with 'no need', a court heard
A garda assaulted a teenage joyrider with a 'gratuitous' knee to the stomach as he arrested him after a 'highly reckless' road rampage around a busy shopping centre.
The youth had already surrendered following a pursuit and was being restrained when Garda Dean Chapman struck him with 'no need', a court heard.
Chapman (35), who has since left the force and is now a firefighter and paramedic, pleaded guilty when he appeared in Dublin District Court.
Judge Aine Clancy applied the Probation of Offenders Act, sparing him a recorded conviction, after he made a €1,000 charity donation.
Chapman admitted assaulting the teenager at an address in west Dublin following a road chase around the Blanchardstown Centre on January 22, 2023.
The court heard the car was stolen in Tipperary and was driven dangerously in a garda pursuit which ended when it was abandoned in the shopping centre.
The teenager was arrested at a nearby house and Chapman placed a hand on his shoulder before bringing him to the ground. When the youth was being brought back to his feet, Chapman kneed him in the abdominal area.
The garda air support unit had been involved in the pursuit and the helicopter footage was played to the court, showing the car being driven at speed through traffic on a busy afternoon at the Blanchardstown Centre.
Chapman, who had no previous convictions, was involved in the pursuit from the M50 and the court had seen an example of 'what can only be described as highly reckless and dangerous driving' by the stolen car, his barrister said.
Garda Dean Chapman. Photo: Collins Courts
News in 90 Seconds - 5th June 2025
He had witnessed this before the encounter with the teenager who was 'previously known to the gardai and had not been compliant with them.' This was to the forefront of Chapman's mind when he struck the victim in a 'momentary aberration of character.'
The victim was now serving a prison sentence. Chapman had worked in the gardai for four years as well in the defence forces and had an 'exemplary record.'
The assault incident was one factor in Chapman's decision to resign from the gardai.
The lawyer asked the judge to consider the effect a conviction would have for someone like Chapman, who was dealing with the public on a daily basis.
The court heard he had one child and another on the way.
Judge Clancy said she had seen the 'horrendous' driving that took place in the lead up to the assault.
'It's a knee to the abdomen of the injured party, it was gratuitous, he was already restrained and there was no need to do that,' she said.
However, she dismissed the charge under the Probation Act after the €1,000 donation was made.
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