A Christmas reveller who butted in when another man was being arrested outside a nightclub at Christmas ended up attacking Gardai.
Charles O’Donnell appeared before Falcarragh District Court when it was heard that he threw multiple punches at Gardai.
The incident happened just before 3am on December 27th, 2018 outside a nightclub in Downings.
The court heard that Gardai were dealing with the arrest of another man O’Donnell approached acting ‘very aggressively’.
O’Donnell attempted to stop an arrest being made, Inspector Seamus McGonigle said.
“He became enraged and was throwing multiple punches,” he added.
The court heard how O’Donnell, a 31-year-old of Drum, Cranford, was restrained by several members of the public.
As he attempted to wrestle free, he continued to swing punches and kicks in the direction of Gardai.
The following day, Garda Keating called to O’Donnell’s home. The accused’s father told the Garda that his son had left to return to the UK. A fixed charge penalty notice (FCPN) was issued, but was not paid.
Solicitor for O’Donnell, Mr Frank Dorrian, told the court that his client was an ‘otherwise hardworking and industrious man’.
“He was home from the UK for Christmas and he had far too much to drink,” Mr Dorrian said. “He thought that his intervention would assist a situation and it unravelled.
“He had the good sense to call and apologise to the Gardai. He did all that he could to address the matter.”
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham said it was disappointing that Gardai were subjected to this kind of behavior.
For using or engaging in any threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace may be occasioned, O’Donnell was convicted and fined €300.