Spat at and tried to bite garda

A Romanian national, who spat at gardaí and tried to bite members as they attempted to effect his arrest, has lodged an appeal against the sentence handed down at Cavan District Court.

Norbert Gano (32) of Market Street, Cootehill, had pleaded guilty to two counts of assault at Cavan Garda Station on March 11, 2025; with two more counts at Swellan Lower, Cavan Town, at an earlier stage; and also with obstructing gardaí in the course of their duty.

Gano further pleaded to criminal damage, with public intoxication and also engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour at Swellan Lower; possession of cannabis at Cavan Garda Station two days later, on March 13, 2025; and with failure to appear at Cavan District Court on March 26, 2026. Gano was represented in court by solicitor Damien Rudden.

Judge Raymond Finnegan was told that the injured parties were all serving members.

Evidence was given that Gano was one of two masked men who turned up at a person’s house in Swellan Lower and began kicking the homeowner’s front door shortly after 11pm.

The woman had put her kids to bed, and the men were screaming that she had “ratted” on the other of the two person’s outside.

When gardaí arrived an attempt was made to place the defendant under arrested, but he resisted and fell on top of Garda Conor Tonry. Armed support was called. Gano continued to “swing his arms and legs”, lashing out in a violent manner. He was also spitting at Garda Frank Ronanyne.

He continued to be aggressive even after armed support showed up.

Back at the station he kicked at Gda Tonry and “tried to bite him on the arm”. An attempt was also made to hit Gda Gary Brennan.

Gano had 73 previous convictions, including one for assault causing harm, five for failing to comply with garda direction, four for refusing to give his name and address, one for obstructing a member of An Garda Siochána, and more for theft and and road traffic.

“He has a very poor record,” stated Judge Raymond Finnegan, who was told that Gano’s mother was in court to offer support to her son.

At the time, Mr Rudden said that Gano was “clean” from the influence of intoxicants and landed a job working with a modular homes company.

“Alcohol,” said Mr Rudden, and his client “do not go hand in hand”.

He assured the court that Gano is remorseful.

Judge Raymond Finnegan handed down a five-month sentence back dated to when the defendant first went into custody, with a further five months added, three months for the assault on Gda Brennan, and two months for the assault on Gda Tonry, with all other charges taken into account.

A destruction order was given for the drugs.

Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal and taken up.

* Published with support from the Court Reporting Scheme.