Alleged assault on paramedic in ambulance in Laois

A court was told a vulnerable man wanted to withdraw his guilty plea for assaulting a paramedic in an ambulance in Laois. 

David Bradshaw (37) with an address at The Right Bungalow, Ballinakill Road, is accused of assault at Colt on May 16, 2023.

John O’Dwyer BL said “that’s my application to resile from the guilty plea.” 

He told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court that his client was a “vulnerable individual” who was accused of assaulting a paramedic who collected him when he was not compos mentis. 

Mr O’Dwyer said it would be alleged his client raised his leg and brushed off the man which resulted in an extreme reaction. The court heard there was video of the incident.  

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the man had been cautioned to attend but hadn’t and a bench warrant had been issued. He said the injured party in the case declined to make a victim impact statement. He said he was only now hearing of the raising of a leg. “I haven’t seen CCTV nor do I want to,” he said. 

“The footage was brought to my attention on the last occasion,” said Mr O’Dwyer. “It is quite visceral and it speaks for itself,” he told Judge Susan Fay. 

Judge Fay said that while she appreciated the additional work involved for gardaí she didn’t believe she had any choice but to accept the application. She adjourned the case to Portlaoise District Court on December 22 to fix a date for hearing.