A married father of two who when “out of his mind” on alcohol assaulted a garda at a house party was before Ballina District Court this week.
On January 28 2010 gardaí received a call about a disturbance at Riverside, Ballina. Twenty people were in the house, and when the gardaí arrived Thomas Lawrence, 36 Riverside Drive, Quay Road, Ballina, punched a garda in the side of the face and then swung out at both gardaí. The defendant had to be forcibly restrained and he was arrested at 3.20am when assistance arrived.
Solicitor John Gordon said that the 22-year-old’s wife called the gardaí as the party had become rowdy.
Mr Gordon said that the man, originally from the UK, was “out of his mind on drink” and has since cut down on his alcohol consumption.
Judge Mary Devins remanded Lawrence on continuing bail to June 8 for a probation report. The judge said: “I view assaults on gardaí doing their job seriously.”
