A Tipperary man, who hid from gardai under a parked car and fled from the court house while in custody on a separate occasion, has been further remanded in custody.
The Galway District Court heard last Tuesday how an intoxicated Damien Merrigan had tried to hide under a parked car at St Mary’s Road, Galway, when gardai arrived at the scene. He then became very abusive and continued to kick and lash out at gardai as they conveyed him to Galway Garda station.
The 35-year-old with an address at 8 Abbot Mews, Holycross, Thurles, Tipperary, was charged with being intoxicated in a public place and threatening and abusive behaviour at St Mary’s Road on August 11, 2009. He also failed to appear in court on April 17, 2009, in relation to other offences.
According to Garda evidence Merrigan had been arrested at 4.30am and when cautioned he replied “f**k off” to both charges. Inspector Ernie White then requested that the defendant be remanded in custody, however defence solicitor Adrian MacLynn said that his client was not consenting to the remand.
Inspector White said that the State had concerns as there were two bench warrants in existence and that when Merrigan had been brought to Galway District Court at a previous sitting by gardai from Mayo he had fled but was re-arrested. “I have no doubt he will not turn up to court,” said Inspector White.
After these concerns were raised Mr MacLynn informed Judge Conal Gibbons that his client had changed his attitude and wanted to plead guilty.
Garda Donal Connellan gave evidence that on August 11 gardai received a call regarding a man in an intoxicated state at St Mary’s Road. When they arrived Merrigan was observed “lying under a car”. Merrigan became very threatening and abusive to gardai when they approached and kicked and lashed out at them. Garda Connellan said that Merrigan “continued to attack” in the same manner at Galway Garda station.
Under questioning by Mr MacLynn Garda Connellan said that the defendant had been trying to hide from gardai.
The court then heard that Merrigan has previous convictions for road traffic offences going back to 2001 but that he also has previous convictions for public order offences under a different name.
Judge Gibbons said that he wanted to know all the previous convictions and remanded the defendant in custody to appear at Galway District Court on August 18.
