The aunt of a man with autism is suing the Gardaí 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 2 years ago for allegedly chasing two girls with a stick.

It is 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 is limited physical boundaries because of his autism and they dispute the location where Gardaí say they arrested him as well as the allegation that he was chasing 2 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 Gardaí refused to immediately release him.

It is claimed the Garda Ombudsman has received no response to a complaint lodged by his mother 18 months ago.

Now his aunt is suing for damages – including aggravated, punitive and exemplary damages – for false imprisonment, assault and breach of his right to liberty.

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