A 20-year-old man who assaulted a garda was told by Judge Mary Devins that the gardaí “call the shots” when they are carrying out their duties and “not drunken fools like you”.
Shane Troy, 121 Greenhills Estate, Ballina appeared at Ballina District Court this week, where the court heard that in the early hours of February 7, gardaí were called to a disturbance in a laneway off Clare Street where a number of youths were involved in a “mini riot”. Troy, who was very intoxicated, was also at the scene.
As one of the youths was being arrested by Garda Garvey, Troy struck the garda’s forehead, which resulted in a minor injury of a cut over Garda Garvey’s eye.
Pepper spray was then used on the defendant.
Judge Devins said to the defendant: “I don’t think you realise how serious it is to assault a garda who is carrying out his duty… and then some idiot like you comes along and gets involved.”
Troy has no previous convictions.
For the section two assault the judge convicted and fined him €300 and also directed that €200 be made available for the charity of Garda Garvey’s choice; the Midwest Garda Special Needs Association.
