A DEFENDANT who told Tuam Court he had a law degree and knew his rights alleged an arresting Garda had punched him hard “in the liathróidí” as he was being taken out of the patrol car following his arrest.
Judge James Faughnan heard evidence that Ronan O’Reilly, 16 Stonebridge, Kells, was stopped at the Demesne, Tuam, on July 29 last for a minor traffic offence, holding a phone while driving, and became very abusive and aggressive towards Gardaí.
He was arrested for a public order offence and also charged with causing €5 worth of damage to documents in the patrol car as he was taken to the station.
He continued with the stream of abuse while in custody, the Judge was told. O’Reilly has previous convictions for public order offences and an assault.
Defending himself he said he had a law degree and knew his rights. He admitted he was using the phone and said it was a distressing call regarding his sister going into a hospice. “Wrong place, wrong time,” he added.
O’Brien said he was handcuffed and put in the back of the patrol car with a Garda. He alleged he was assaulted while being taken out of the car.
“When the Garda was taking me out of the car he full-forced punched me in the liathróidí,” he claimed. On top of that he was kept two and a half hours in the station and made walk a mile and a half back to his car on his release.
Judge Faughnan said he sensed some anger issues and imposed two months on both charges, suspended provided he be of good behaviour for two years.
“Behave now or I’ll activate that sentence. If you have a law degree you’ll understand what that means,” the Judge concluded.
