A Castlebar man who told a garda inspector that he was a “prick” was before Castlebar District Court this week for being threatening and abusive.
Detective Garda Hugh O’Donnell was in the foyer of the Courthouse, Castlebar, where there were around 20 people in the vicinity, when Michael McDonagh, 56 An Sruthan, Castlebar shouted towards him, “How are ya Hugh O’Donnell...how are ya Hughie.”
McDonagh continued to walk towards the district court office area in the foyer and was followed by Inspector Joe Doherty, a sergeant, a Garda and Garda O’Donnell. Insp Doherty told McDonagh to stop shouting, to which McDonagh said to him, “Who are you big man in uniform...you won’t always be in uniform.” McDonagh also called the inspector a “prick” on two occasions.
Judge Mary Devins did not convict the defendant for section six. The judge said that “the incident was triggered by a loud salutation by this young man to a member of An Garda Siochana” and after this happened there was a “bit of an overkill” by members of the gardaí.
Judge Devins said while it is quite difficult for the gardaí “to accept that degree of insolence” from this “insolent young pup”, that this insolence comes “out of inadequacy” as it is “the way in which the inadequate flex their muscles”.
The section six was dismissed.
