A 54-year-old Bonniconlon man who threw a salt container at chip shop staff, punched one garda in the stomach, kicked another, and hit one in the mouth, was before a special sitting of Ballina District Court on Tuesday.
On September 9 this year at 11.15pm Garda Charlie Elliott was called to Chipadora on Abbey Street, Ballina where John Loftus, Carralavin, Bonniconlon, Ballina was observed walking in the middle of the road outside the chip shop with his crutch held in the air.
A staff member of Chipadora, Maria Holmes, informed the garda that Loftus had thrown a large salt container which struck her on the back of her head.
Loftus ignored Garda Elliott when he asked the defendant for his name; at one stage the defendant told the garda that his name was “Michael” and also told Garda Elliott to “f**k off”.
When being arrested the defendant punched Garda Rebecca Fearon, who was also at the scene, in the stomach and while getting out of the garda car Loftus kicked and attempted to punch Garda Elliot. In the public office of the garda station the defendant also hit Garda Martin McNicholas in the mouth.
John Gordon, solicitor for the defendant, said that Loftus lives with his elderly parents since returning from the UK, where he worked for 20 years as a builder.
Mr Gordon said that Loftus, who has no previous convictions in Ireland, and who is in receipt of disability benefit, apologised to the gardaí the day after the incident, which occurred as Loftus had consumed a lot of alcohol and was also on a lot of medication at the time as a result of a car accident. The solicitor said that his client has handed in €200 to him to be made available for whatever beneficiary the court directs.
Judge Patrick Clyne directed that this money be given to the Chipadora staff member who Loftus assaulted, and the judge applied the Probation Act.
