A 19-year-old found guilty of assaulting three Mullingar gardaí while under the influence of cocaine has been given a 15 month suspended sentence.
Judge John Lindsay came down in favour of evidence given by Garda Tomás Blake, Garda Michael Daniels, and Garda Neil Donnellan who described out of control behaviour in a Garda car and at the station.
Robert Conlon, 3 Westfield House, Mullingar admitted he’d been fighting with his brother in the middle of Patrick Street and caused traffic to stop.
He said he was upset Garda Michael Daniels arrested him and not his brother and admitted that when he was placed in the patrol car he’d bashed his head against the window.
However, he denied that he’d jumped at Garda Daniels and tried to head-butt him, and that he tried to head-butt Garda Blake as he looked back between the seats to check that everything was okay. He also denied spitting at driver Garda Neil Donnellan who saw him grinning at him when he turned to see what the spitting noise was.
He insisted that he had not head-butted Garda Blake at the Garda station before he was put in the cell, a move which left the garda dazed and seeking medical attention.
The gardaí described his behaviour on the night as outrageous, violent, and out of control.
Garda Blake said he was a very violent prisoner and Garda Daniels described the “outrageous and unbelievable carry-on” of a man trying to inflict injury on them.
Garda Donnellan described how when he put on the lights and sirens to get them to the station faster, Conlon’s behaviour worsened.
“I hope you crash, I hope you all die,” were Conlon’s words, he said.
Conlon also denied threatening in the Garda station to get Paul Mason to shoot the officers.
On conviction, Ms Cronin said her client has had a difficult life, much of which was spent in care. She described a dysfunctional upbringing and an addiction problem.
He’d been high on cocaine on the night of the incident, and the judge said this could account for the difference in his recollection of the events.
“He needs to make a change in his lifestyle,” observed the judge as he imposed consecutive six month sentences for the assaults on Garda Blake and Donnellan and a consecutive three month sentence for threatening behaviour.
He took charges of intoxication and assault on Garda Daniels into consideration.
The sentence was suspended for eighteen months on condition he continue to liaise with the HSE and follow their directions.
He warned that if Conlon comes before him again, he will likely face 15 months in jail.
