Longford man 'acted abominably' as garda punched in the head

A man who punched a Garda in the head during the course of a dispute with another man has avoided a court conviction.

Martin Lawrence, 105 MacEoin Park, Longford, appeared last Tuesday at Longford District Court, where evidence was heard of an incident which occurred on March 3, 2023.

Sgt Enda Daly, for the state, told the court that, on the date in question, at 10.30pm, Gardaí received reports of two males fighting in the main street of Longford town.

When Gardaí separated the men, Garda David Gerrity was pushed to the ground in a struggle that resulted in the accused punching the officer in the head a number of times, while Gda Gerrity asked him to stop.

Pepper spray had to be used to carry out the arrest on Mr Lawrence.

Solicitor for the defence, Ms Pauline Brady, said her client was “highly intoxicated” on the night and that he made “immediate steps” to apologise to Gda Gerrity.

“He acted abominably on the night. He hasn't drank since,” said Ms Brady, adding that her client had €500 in court that day to be used as the court saw fit.

“It's very discomoding to the people of Longford to be out in the streets, boxing the head off someone.”

Judge Bernadette Owens ordered the €500 be handed over and paid to Little Blue Heroes and dealt with the case by way of Section 1(1) of the probation act.

“You won't get that again,” she said.

“A Garda doing his duty should not have come up against that kind of behaviour.”