A man who threatened Gardai with broken glass and threw a TV at them was jailed for eight months earlier this week (December 2 ).
On a separate matter involving this defendant, the judge ordered for a Quinn Direct executive to appear in court at a future date to explain a curious relationship the defendant claimed he had with the company during the testimony on a no insurance charge.
Judge David Anderson heard how gardai were called to an alleged assault in Tormey Villas at around 5.30am on November 16 and when they arrived they found a number of broken windows and the defendant, Paul Berry, (44 ), of 18, Tormey Villas, Athlone “being very abusive”.
“He was saying the windows were broken by a relative and one other. He was very abusive and agressive,” said Garda Mark Lucas. “He threatened us with a piece of a pane of broken glass. Then he went into the house, got the television and threw it into the road. We tried to calm him down but were unsuccessful. He threw a piece of the glass at myself and Garda Nee.” Berry had 10 previous convictions, all for public order offences.
Judge Anderson then heard from two other gardai who gave evidence of stopping Berry twice on the one night - April 16, on Assumption Road and at Belhavel - for having no insurance. His solicitor, Mr Tony McLynn, defended the no insurance charges first. “The vehicle was his partner’s,” he said. “Mr Berry had made overtures to the insurance company and believed he had 14 days grace [to make payments]. Then he was stopped [by gardai] twice.
“He fell out with his partner and decided not to take up the insurance. It was my client’s belief he would be covered for 14 days after his first approach to Quinn Direct. Suppose he has the misfortune to run in to another person who has a similar arrangement with Quinn Direct? Would he get paid?” asked the judge.
“We would have to wait until that happens,’ said Mr McLynn. This did not satisfy Judge Anderson who postponed sentencing Berry on the no insurance charges until December 16 and ordered Inspector Nicholas Farrell to summons the managing director of Quinn Direct to explain this.
“Find out what precise premium collecting system they’re using,” said the judge to Inspector Farrell.
“Has he [the defendant] had any correspondence?” Judge Anderson asked Mr McLynn. “He says he has letters,” said Mr McLynn. “Tell him to bring them in on the 16 [of December],” said the judge, who then turned his attention to the disturbance on November 16.
“He was having an argument with his partner and I believe she may have broken the windows,” said Mr McLynn.
“It got way out of hand. A substantial degree of alcohol was consumed by my client on the morning in question. He has apologised for his conduct.
“He had abstained from alcohol since May this year and deeply regrets his actions.”
A probation report on Berry was handed in to Judge Anderson. “It says: ‘he has a high risk of re-offending if he doesn’t address his alcohol problems’,” he noted. “The long and the short of it is this. I rarely go against the Probation Service but I will this time.” He sentenced Berry to eight months imprisonment on each of the threatening charges and ordered they run concurrently.
“They [the gardai] deserve the protection of the courts and they’re going to get it here.” He set bail at €100 with an independent surety of €2,000 which was paid by Mr Austin Berry.
