Assaulted garda in Laois

A man admitted assaulting a garda who stopped him driving at night without lights.

Martin Dunne, 38, of 103 Cherrygrove, Knockmay, Portlaoise admitted assaulting Garda Roy Cooper and failing to provide a specimen at Portlaoise Garda Station on November 25 last.  

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the Garda suffered “very minor” soft tissue injuries during the incident when he was pushed against a wall. 

He said gardai stopped the defendant as he was driving without lights on. After being stopped the man refused to provide a specimen.  

“He pushed Garda Cooper against a wall,” he told the court. He said the man has 12 previous convictions but the most recent dates from 2009. 

“I know the matter is extremely serious,” said Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick. 

“He has written a letter of apology to Garda Cooper,” she said. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said she also had a letter from the man’s wife indicating that his behaviour had been out of character. 

“He has €1,000 in court and should the court direct more, that is something he can deal with,” she said.

“This was out of character for him and quite an aberration,” said Ms Fitzpatrick. 

Judge Andrew Cody directed that the €1,000 be donated to the garda benevolent fund. He disqualified the man from driving for four years and fined him a total of €300. The driving ban was postponed until July 1