A 19-year-old man who assaulted his mother, caused criminal damage in his mother’s home, and pulled a knife on gardaí was before Castlebar District Court this week.
Garda Sean Ryan outlined that on November 21 2011 at 8.20pm, gardaí were called to 54 An Sruthan, Turlough Road, Castlebar. Gardaí were met at the scene by the mother of Liam Gleeson, 54 An Sruthan, Turlough Road, Castlebar. The mother of Gleeson said that she had been hit on her arm by her son. The defendant had also caused criminal damage to the house — he pulled a picture of the Sacred Heart from the wall and a lampshade from the ceiling.
Gardaí entered the home and found the defendant sitting on the couch. When gardaí approached him, Gleeson pulled a knife out from under couch and said “you’re not fucking taking me”. The defendant was disarmed and arrested.
Gleeson was also before court for entering the home of 8 Pine Grove, Castlebar on June 24 2011, which was ransacked by him and others. The owner of the home returned while the incident was taking place and gardaí observed the defendant trying to get out of the back window.
Solicitor for Gleeson, Tom Walsh, said that the incidents occurred due to the misuse of alcohol. Since assault at the defendant’s family home, Gleeson consented to a barring order from his home and has been in detention since November 22.
The defendant has seven previous convictions.
For the section 11 firearms offence, Judge Denis McLoughlin convicted and sentenced the defendant to six months detention (which he recommended to be served in Castlerea ). The sentence was backdated to November 22.
For the assault the judge convicted and sentenced him to two months concurrent; again the sentence was backdated to November 22.
