A 33-year-old Ballina man with 21 previous convictions was sentenced to a total of six months in jail — with the sentence to be suspended for 12 months — by Judge Mary Devins at Ballina District Court on Tuesday.
David Christie, 33 Bunree Road, Ballina pleaded guilty to assaulting three gardaí in September 2003.
The facts of the case, which were previously heard, were recapped in court this week, which outlined that on the night of September 7 2003, gardaí were called to an altercation outside a nightclub on Pearse Street. Christie, who was a bystander to the fight, was approached by Garda Patrick Bourke in relation to a fine which the defendant had not paid.
Christie told Garda Bourke to “f**k off” and that he had no money. The defendant was arrested and while being brought back to the Garda station along Walsh Street, resisted violently, where he was abusive to gardaí and kicked out at them — striking one in the shin and headbutting another. When being placed in the cell, Christie continued to shout and roar and kicked one garda in the face and another in the leg.
Defending solicitor John Gordon said the incident in 2003 arose when the garda grabbed the defendant from behind and due to his “tenacious temper” Christie lost control and resisted arrest as he thought it was an unjustified arrest. Mr Gordon explained that Christie had been in trouble since he was a teen and that arising out of a serious charge in 1998 the defendant served a fairly lengthy sentence. The solicitor said that Christie now has stability in his life, having learnt a trade as a carpenter while in the United States and is also drug free.
Judge Devins convicted and fined the defendant a total of €600 and sentenced him to two three months consecutive sentences in jail; with the sentences suspended for one year.
