Man charged with assault of Donegal Garda

A man has been charged with assaulting a Garda in Stranorlar.

Edward McGahern is before the court in connection with the alleged incident on February 2, 2022.

The 47-year-old, with an address at Lui na Greine, Oldtown, Letterkenny, faces a charge of assaulting Garda Jamie McGrory at Tircallan, Stranorlar.

Sergeant Gerard Dalton told Letterkenny District Court that Gardai responded to a call and gave McGahern an instruction to desist with his behaviour.

When McGahern failed to obey the instruction, he was informed that he was being arrested under the Public Order Act.

Gardai had to deploy pepper spray when McGahern resisted arrest. Sergeant Dalton said McGahern grabbed the Garda’s stab vest and pinned him to the ground ‘for a number of minutes’ before the officer freed himself.

While Gardai awaited assistance, McGahern was said to have subsequently kicked out when being handcuffed, connecting with the chest and hip of Garda McGrory.

The accused was eventually detained.

Sergeant Dalton said that while he had no medical report to hand, Garda McGrory suffered muscle pain to his hip, shoulder and back and has since made a recovery.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham accepted jurisdiction in the case and adjourned the matter until July 10 with McGahern’s solicitor, Mr Patsy Gallagher, to be furnished with the relevant statements in the matter.