Louth man (43) acted like ‘bull in a china shop' when grabbing Garda
Michael Davidson, Meeting House Lane, Linenhall Street, Dundalk, had been walking along the centre of the road in front of a Garda patrol vehicle before the incident occurred.
He pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in public, using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour or words, obstructing a Garda in the execution of his duty and a Section 35 pedestrian offence at Quay Street, Dundalk, on December 7, 2023.
Evidence was given that the defendant was walking in the centre of the road ahead of a patrol vehicle. He stopped and began shouting at it.
Mr Davidson refused to move on several occasions before the Garda drove around him, pulled in and got out.
The man again refused to move. He was shouting aggressively at the officer and, while being escorted, grabbed him by the lapels and forced him against a wall.
He attempted to strike the Garda and said that he would choke him. He referred to 'a previous attack he carried out with a bottle'.
There were 51 previous convictions.
Barrister Niall Mackin said that the defendant was on medication and had addiction issues at the time.
He completed a Turas Counselling Service course and was clean since.
Mr Davidson had one child, one grandchild and was carer for his partner. He instructed that he would not be in trouble again. He had €300 to offer.
Judge Nicola Andrews said she wouldn't let a situation pass with a charitable donation when a Garda was attacked.
The defendant 'was like a bull in a china shop,' the judge added.
He was remanded on continuing bail to June 11 for a probation report and community service assessment.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
8 hours ago
- Irish Times
Man arrested and charged after garda assaulted on board plane at Dublin Airport
A man has been arrested and charged after 'viciously' assaulting a garda on board a plane at Dublin Airport on Tuesday morning. The man, aged in his 40s, was on board a transatlantic United Airlines flight travelling from Newark, New Jersey, to Dublin. The captain and crew of the flight reported the man being disruptive and requested the assistance of gardaí, who subsequently boarded and attempted to engage with him. A Garda spokesperson said the man proceeded to 'viciously assault a member of An Garda Síochána'. READ MORE Pepper spray was deployed during the incident, according to the Garda. The passenger subsequently fled the aircraft and was arrested a short time later. He has since been charged with assault and offences under the Air Navigation and Transport Act 2022 and is due before Dublin District Court on Tuesday evening. 'The Garda member who was injured during this incident is being treated at Beaumont Hospital for non-life threatening injuries,' the spokesperson said.
Irish Examiner
9 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Three men arrested in Tipperary following garda operation
Three men aged in their 30s and 40s have been arrested as part of a major search and arrest operation in Tipperary. Gardaí from Tipperary Town, Thurles, Clonmel and Cahir carried out the operation on Tuesday morning. Gardaí said the operation was targeting an organised crime group suspected of being involved in a number of thefts and burglaries across the Tipperary Division that occurred between January 2023 to March 2024. A domestic residence was also searched and a number of items were recovered, including tools and gardening equipment. The three men who were arrested were conveyed to Garda stations in Co Tipperary. They are currently being detained under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. Investigations are ongoing, a spokesperson said. Read More Carlow gunman with 'fascination for firearms' was on bail for gun charges and due back in court
Sunday World
11 hours ago
- Sunday World
Two men jailed for incident that led to Garda breaking his hand
Garda Mark Pender said both men were quite loud and aggressive, particularly Kevin Scanlan (29) who was kicking a door and telling him to 'f**k off.' Two Wicklow men have been sentenced to three months in prison each for obstructing a Garda called to a disturbance outside a house in Dunlavin, Co Wicklow three years ago. Kevin Scanlan (29) of Stoneacre, Crehelp, Dunlavin and Ross Coleborn (29) of Castledermot Road, Baltinglass, Co Wicklow both pleaded guilty to a charge of obstructing a peace officer in the execution of his duty at Fairgreen Manor, Dunlavin, on April 26, 2022, contrary to Section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. A sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court heard Garda Mark Pender broke his hand during the incident. Gda Pender told the court that he was called to a house in Dunlavin where he discovered both accused parties in an intoxicated state trying to gain entry to a property. The court heard that Mr Scanlon was in a relationship with Mr Coleborn's sister, Claire, who lived in the house and who wanted both men to go away. Bray Courthouse, where Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court sits News in 90 Seconds - 3rd June 2025 Gda Pender said both men were quite loud and aggressive, particularly Mr Scanlan who was kicking a door and telling him to 'f**k off.' The garda who attended the scene on his own, described how a small scuffle broke out between the three of them when he tried to arrest Mr Scanlan. Gda Pender said he could not execute the arrest as he was being held by both men. The court heard Mr Scanlan had 51 previous convictions including six for public order offences, while Mr Coleborn had 26 previous convictions, the majority of which were for road traffic offences but one for assault. Gda Pender told counsel for the DPP, James Kelly BL, that Mr Scanlan was currently serving a prison sentence imposed by a court in Naas in relation to a conviction for criminal damage. He also confirmed that Mr Scanlan had been on bail at the time of the offence in Dunlavin. In a victim impact statement, Gda Pender said he did not blame the accused men that he had broken his hand during the incident but that he was disappointed he had been put in such a situation. Gda Pender said he knew both men but had never experienced such impudence and hostility from them before. He urged both men not to 'throw their lives away' after informing the court that they had issues with alcohol, cocaine and Valium. 'Something is going to give unless that's stopped,' said Gda Pender. Cross-examined by counsel for Mr Coleborn, Éamonn O'Moore BL, the witness acknowledged that the accused had written him a letter of apology. Mr O'Moore said Mr Coleborn was a father of one and mechanic who had significant issues with abuse of alcohol and drugs. Under cross-examination by barrister for Mr Scanlan, Damian Sheridan BL, Gda Pender said neither accused had come to his attention since the incident and both men looked 'much healthier.' Mr Sheridan said Mr Scanlan had a difficult family background but had displayed remorse and shame for the impact of his offending and drug-taking. He said the father of two was a trained chef who had a job offer for when he was released from prison. 'He is counting the days to get back to his family,' said Mr Sheridan. Counsel said the accused had been free from drugs for a period of three years and now realised 'the value of what he has in life.' Judge Patrick Quinn said striking a police officer during a scuffle was treated as a serious offence by the court. 'Interfering with a garda in uniform is a serious matter,' he remarked. The judge also observed that a probation report had assessed Mr Coleborn at being at a high risk of reoffending within the next 12 months and that he did not accept responsibility for his actions. Sentencing both men to three months in prison, Judge Quinn directed that Mr Scanlan's sentence should be served consecutively to his existing term of imprisonment.
