A man was pepper sprayed after being ‘triggered’ by a car parked on a footpath in Laois 

Gardaí had to use pepper spray during the arrest of a man who had been ‘triggered’ by a car parked across a footpath. 

Shane Bergin (34) of 37 Thornberry, Abbeyleix, appeared before a sitting of Portlaoise District Court accused of obstructing a garda at Ballinakill Road, Abbeyleix on October 19, 2024. 

Garda Sgt JJ Kirby said gardaí had arrived at the scene on the evening in question.

“This gentleman had to be arrested and OC spray had to be deployed,” he explained. Sgt Kirby said the man had four previous convictions. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client was pleading guilty to the offence. She said he worked in a local factory. 

According to Ms Fitzpatrick, the defendant was “triggered” on the day by a “car parked across a footpath he was walking on” and this had led to his behaviour. 

She said the man had no previous convictions for public order offences and had entered a guilty plea at an early stage. She said her client had apologised to gardaí before leaving the garda station after his arrest. 

Judge Susan Fay noted the man had entered a guilty plea and had been cooperative after his arrest. She said it was a serious offence but as the man had no other convictions for public order offences she would allow him an opportunity to pay €500 to the Little Blue Heroes charity. The defendant produced the donation in court and the charge against him was struck out.