Donegal man assaulted Garda and damaged motorcycle during spate of incidents on Valentine's Day
Orr, a father of five, previously pleaded guilty in April 2024 one count of assault causing harm at Manorcunningham in Co Donegal on February 14, 2019.
At Letterkenny Circuit Court this week, Orr pleaded guilty to other offences which occurred on the same date including unlawful interference with a vehicle, dangerous driving, criminal damage, failure to report an accident, refusal to provide a specimen, and assaulting a Garda.
Orr is charged that he assaulted Garda Michael Kilcoyne, a peace officer, acting in the course of his duty, at Cullion Road, Letterkenny,
Orr is also charged with the unlawful interference with a mechanically propelled vehicle, the property of Charles Bonner, while such vehicle was stationary at Manorcunningham by removing the key from the ignition.
He is also charged with dangerous driving on the N13 on February 14, 2019
He is further charged that he did without lawful excuse damage property, to wit, a Toyota Corolla, belonging to Kathleen Birch intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged at Dromore, Letterkenny, on February 14, 2019.
He is also charged with failing to report an accident when injury was caused to property or a person at Dromore Lower on February 14, 2019 being the driver of a mechanically propelled vehicle involved in the accident.
Orr was also charged with refusal or failing to provide a blood specimen/urine sample having been required by gardaí on February 14, 2019.
Other charges were also taken into account by the court.
State Prosecutor, Ms Fiona Crawford, BL, along with Garda Daire Sheridan outlined the incidents to the court.
The court heard another motorist, Charles Bonner, was driving a Landcruiser towards the Manorcunningham roundabout when he observed a vehicle overtaking vehicles before pulling in front of him.
Mr Bonner flashed his lights at the vehicle and the driver braked forcing Mr Bonner to brake and he came to a stop.
Mr Bonner told gardaí that the car reversed back and continued to brake preventing him from leaving the area.
The driver, now known as Orr, got out of the car and punched Mr Bonner on the nose, removed his keys from the ignition and threw them in the hedge.
Mr Bonner could not find his keys and suffered a cut on his face caused by his glasses.
A short time later, gardaí received a report of a two car traffic collision at Dromore Lower, Letterkenny.
The court heard Ms Kathleen Birch and her daughter were traveling towards Letterkenny down Lurgybrack approaching the Dry Arch Roundabout when a car pulled onto her side of the road and hit into them.
Ms Birch suffered pain in her back and legs and a number of people came to help after the incident.
Orr left the scene of the crash on foot but he left behind his wallet with banks cards inside and there was a letter addressed to him in the vehicle.
Garda motorcyclist Michael Kilcoyne attended the scene and went in search of Orr who was found on the Cullion Road.
Garda Kilcoyne approached Orr and he became aggressive and assaulted the Garda by grabbing him by the neck, pulling him from the motorcycle.
The motorcycle fell to the ground and damage was caused to the frame of the bike.
During the arrest, there was a bit of a 'scuffle' and he had to be forced into the Garda vehicle. He was taken to Letterkenny Garda Station and refused to provide a sample for testing.
Orr was interviewed about the incident on February 18, 2019 and apologised for the incident.
Barrister for Orr, Mr Ciaran Elders BL, instructed by solicitor Frank Dorrian, said Orr was co operative during the second interview and the court heard he 'could not have been more apologetic.'
Mr Elders told the court Orr entered a plea on the first day the case was returned to the Circuit Court and he had gathered €2,000 worth of compensation including €500 to replace Mr Bonner's key, €750 for the damage to his glasses and a further €750 for Garda Kilcoyne to be donated to a charity of his choice.
A further €500 was also available to Mrs Birch while the court heard civil proceedings had arose from the collision.
Mr Elders told the court that Orr finds himself in a much better place today and he has not come to Garda attention in a number of years.
Mr Elders said the offence occurred while he was under the influence of an intoxicant but that he has been attending AA meetings.
The court heard that Orr has been abusing various different substances since the age of 13 and this is the root cause of his offending.
Mr Elder said Orr has a high IQ and his children are also very intelligent with positive outlooks in attending college, while he is a 'great help' with his two younger children.
Mr Elders said if the court is inclined to impose a custodial sentence, it may be mindful to suspend the sentence for a long period of time to encourage Orr to continue on he path he finds himself on and it would also act as a deterrent for a number of years.
Mr Elders said Orr had rehabilitated himself and had come a long way since 2019.
The court heard there is also the option of community service.
Mr Elders described the incident as 'an unfortunate sequence of event' and asked Judge Roderick Maguire to be as lenient as possible with his client.
Judge Maguire said he would not finalise the sentence at the hearing and the case was adjourned until Friday, July 25.
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