A man, with 51 previous convictions, was found covered in blood by gardai who rushed to the scene after receiving a call from his frightened mother, the Galway District Court heard this week.
The court heard that the 21-year-old had become extremely violent on October 10 last and had started smashing crockery on the ground and deliberately cutting himself forcing his fearful mother, who had a protection order in place, to phone gardai for help.
Patrick McCarthy was arrested at his address at 167 Cairel Mhor, Headford Road, Galway, and brought before Galway District Court the following morning where he pleaded guilty to contravening a protection order and placing his mother in fear by smashing crockery and cutting himself at his home, contrary to Section 17(1 ) of the Domestic Violence Act.
McCarthy also pleaded guilty to being in possession of a knife at Bohermore on June 30, 2010, and to being intoxicated, threatening and abusive behaviour, failing to comply with garda orders, and wilfully obstructing Garda Derek Mullen, at Eyre Square, on September 1, 2010. There was also a guilty plea tendered to the charges of being intoxicated in a public place and to threatening and abusive behaviour at Ball Alley Lane, Eyre Square, on August 5.
Inspector Mick Coppinger told the court that on October 10 at 9.45pm the defendant’s mother contacted gardai to report that her son was “very violent”.
“When gardai arrived at the scene he was covered in blood, it was all over his hands and neck area. His mother showed gardai the protection order and said that he had been self-harming and then she showed them the crockery which had been broken on the ground. There was a cut on his neck,” said Inspector Coppinger. The court then heard that McCarthy violently resisted arrest and pepper spray had to be utilised in order to subdue him.
Describing the events on June 30 Inspector Coppinger said that at 10.45pm gardai received a call about a man in possession of a knife. Gardai spoke with the defendant and a knife with a five inch blade was found in his back pocket. Inspector Coppinger said that when questioned about the knife McCarthy said “I’m going painting” and then he just laughed.
On September 1 at 6.30pm at Kennedy Park, Eyre Square, gardai found a number of people drinking on benches in the playground area. McCarthy was arrested for being abusive to passersby and to gardai. He was placed in the back of a patrol car but then “bolted from the car,” said Inspector Coppinger. Regarding the incident on August 5 there had been an altercation outside Supermacs earlier and McCarthy had fled the scene but was found in Ball Alley Lane where he became abusive to gardai and was highly intoxicated.
“I have expressed concern about him before. I don’t know what the court can do for him,” said Judge Mary Fahy who was later informed that McCarthy has 51 previous convictions.
A representative of the probation services informed the court that she would make enquiries about what kind of treatment and services would be available to the defendant.
Judge Fahy then remanded the defendant in custody to tomorrow’s sitting of Harristown District Court for mention only and the case is due to be heard again at Galway District Court next Monday. She also ordered that McCarthy receive immediate medical attention while in custody.
