19 gardai were needed to restore order to Gowna

A garda was assaulted and threatened with a broken bottle, the court in Arva, Co Cavan, heard last week.

Two women and two men, one of whom is a young person, appeared before Judge MacBride last Wednesday in connection with an incident where the garda was also obstructed in the course of his duty.

  The main protagonist in the incident, Patrick McDonnell (42), 24 Pauric Colum Heights, Longford, who accepted in open court that he was solely responsible for the fact that additional gardai were required at the scene, was sentenced to four months' imprisonment in Castlerea for assaulting Sergeant Christopher Dooley on 11th October last year in Gowna.

  The court heard that a total of 19 gardai were required.  Mr McDonnell's female co-accuseds, Mary McDonnell, also of 24 Pauric Colum Heights, Longford and Kathleen Stokes, 32 Pauric Colum Heights, Longford, were each bound to the peace for two years for obstructing Sergeant Dooley, a peace officer acting in the course of his duty on the same date.

  The final defendant, aged 18, was put on a Probation bond for three years for producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury (a broken Budweiser beer bottle).  Judge MacBride told the Probation Officer that he wanted them to involve the young person, who was not to be named by the press, in worthwhile sporting, social and educational activities.

  Inspector Gerry Curley told the judge that gardai responsed to a report of a disturbance on Main Street, Gowna.  Garda Dooley tried to talk to McDonnell but he refused the direction to leave and then resisted arrest.  His assault on the garda included kicking, and Ms McDonnell and Ms Stokes also turned their attention to the gardai, while they were trying to deal with him.

  The 18-year-old broke a bottle on a window sill and threatened a garda with it.  Inspector Curley, who submitted a medical report to the judge, said it was a very difficult situation and would have gotten totally out of hand but for assistance from other members, numbering 19 in total.  Mr McDonnell had previous convictions for public order, copyright and larceny, while the other defendants had none.

  Solicitor for the defendants, Mr Toolan, called Mr McDonnell to the witness stand explaining that his client would say that originally a row was taking place that he and his co-accuseds were not involved in, he was very intoxicated and this conduct is not normally his modus operandi.  He said his client had previously been involved in an accident where there was a fatality, had psychiatric issues and was also claustrophobic, so the placing of handcuffs on him and constraining of him into a car made him go "berserk".

 "When handcuffed and put into the car, he simply went animal," said the solicitor.

  The witness was sworn in and told the court he was married with six children, who are aged six to 21 years, and works in a van sales yard.  He accepted that the need for additional gardai on the scene was down to him and admitted he had a lot of drink, but claimed he hasn't touched the drink since last year.  "I don't go round the pubs," said the witness, who the court heard was a settled member of the travelling community.  Letters were submitted to the judge regarding the defendant's sporting involvement and employment.

  Judge MacBride commented that the defendant was given a chance when asked to leave and was only handcuffed because he wouldn't comply.  "I am cynical …  I think the pup inside just comes outside when the drink is in," said Judge MacBride. He described the fact that Mr McDonnell had been fined §50 for a public order offence, just five days before the incident, as an indication that soft justice doesn't work.  He also noted that the two female defendants took their cue from Mr McDonnell and that the assault on Sergeant Dooley was vicious.  "Sergeant Dooley went through an horrific time and is to be commended for his courage," said the judge, who added that he has to protect An Garda Siochana in the execution of their duty and anyone who assaults members will be going to prison.

  He fixed recognisances in the event of an appeal.