Five months in jail was imposed on a Limerick man who obstructed a garda in the foyer of the Galway courthouse by putting his elbow to his face.
After hearing the evidence at Galway District Court this week Judge Mary Fahy said that respect must be shown to the courts and to the gardai who are trying to protect people.
Ian Rawson (23 ) with an address in Limerick but formerly of 41 St James Crescent, Mervue, Galway, pleaded guilty last Monday to obstruction of a garda.
Inspector Pat McHugh said that on January 7, 2009, at Galway courthouse a case had been taking place when it was disrupted by a disturbance in the foyer. Gardai went outside to investigate and found two people fighting. Garda Paul McNulty went to separate the pair but was stopped from doing so by the defendant. Rawson, who had not been involved in the initial fight, blocked Garda McNulty “by putting his elbow to his face”. He then attempted to flee the court.
Rawson has 17 previous convictions which includes possession of drugs for sale or supply in July 2008 for which he received an eight month sentence suspended for 12 months. There was also a three month senstence for obstruction in February 2008 and a four month suspended sentence for criminal damage in November 2007.
“This is a very serious obstruction. I’m shocked... He obstructed a garda who was attempting to stop an assault and was prevented from doing so within the precincts of the court,” said Judge Fahy.
Defence solicitor Olivia Traynor said that her client had got in the way of the garda. She said that Rawson, who has now moved back to Limerick, has a “checkered past” but is trying to sort himself out.
“People come into the court to do their business. These include members of the public, the gardai, solicitors, and court staff. Gardai have a duty if something happens to protect people,” said Judge Fahy.
Ms Traynor then attempted to explain that one of the parties involved in the altercation “swung at him with a crutch”.
However, Judge Fahy convicted and sentenced Rawson to five months in jail.
