A woman and two men from Westmeath have been jailed for eight months for their part in a riot which saw an armed garda violently assaulted.
One of the men, Noel Poynton (22 ), Dublin Road, Castlepollard is a soldier with peacekeeping medals from serving overseas, including in Chad.
He pleaded guilty at Mullingar District Court to violent disorder and to assaulting Garda Joseph Kenny who was set upon by a group in Delvin, Westmeath on December 17 2008.
Noel Poynton and a juvenile ran fighting across the road in front of the unmarked car as it entered the village to deal with a separate incident.
Garda Kenny and Sgt Adrian Regan had dealt with the pair and were sending them home when Tracey Poynton (20 ), Turin, Bracklyn, Mullingar intervened, insisting that gardaí leave them alone.
Her shouting and screaming drew a number of people to the area and Garda Kenny gave chase when the younger man got away.
When he caught him, the crowd descended on the armed garda, despite his warning to get back and leave.
Noel Poynton, who had left the scene and was sitting in a car, returned and told Garda Kenny, who was dressed in his official raid jacket, to “let go or I’ll bite the nose off your face”.
He began hitting and kicking the garda who was restraining the younger man.
When Garda Kenny caught Noel Poynton, a number of others began kicking and boxing the garda, who tried to get his head under a nearby car to protect himself.
Other gardaí arrived and came on what Judge David Anderson said was effectively a riot, and using his baton, Sgt Brian Monaghan managed to disperse the hostile crowd and remove Poynton from his colleague.
Garda Kenny said he was “completely helpless and overpowered” by the crowd and did not have time to call for assistance. It was by chance his colleagues arrived.
Both Poyntons and 21-year-old Stephen Anderson of Billistown, Delvin pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault charges against all but Noel Poynton were dropped.
The court heard he had finished a 27 hour shift and attended a family funeral before the incident took place. He had been drinking.
Solicitor Robert Marren said he had served with distinction but developed “a very chronic” alcohol addiction while overseas.
None had previous convictions and the incident was described as out of character for all of them.
Judge David Anderson said that “no member of An Garda Síochána should be subject to this type of behaviour” and gardaí are “entitled to every protection the court can give”.
He handed down each an eight month sentence for violent disorder, and a concurrent four month sentence to Noel Poynton for assaulting Garda Kenny.
Noel Poynton struggled to hold back tears as the sentences were announced while his sister Tracey broke down.
All three have lodged appeals.
