Bare-chested man was so irate following late night brawl gardaí ‘could hear his teeth grinding in anger', court hears

Irish Independent

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Gardaí were forced to arrest a bare-chested man who was found in such a 'highly aggressive' state following a late night brawl that officers could hear his teeth grinding in anger, a court has heard.
Twenty-eight-year-old Darren Cunningham, of Glasdrummond Road, Crossmaglen, Armagh was detained as gardaí responded to reports that a fight had broken out moments earlier along Castleblayney's Main Street on July 14, 2019.
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Sgt Lisa McEntee said when officers arrived at the scene they found the 'shirtless' Cunningham with cuts to his face.
Judge Gerry Jones was told when questions were asked of the accused as to how he sustained his injuries, Cunningham declined to provide any information, instead stating that he had fallen just prior to gardaí's arrival on the scene.
Sgt McEntee said in the ensuing minutes that followed, Cunningham's manner took a more militant turn in an episode the court heard was fuelled by the Armagh man's alcohol intake.
'He declined to provide any information and was highly intoxicated and aggressive,' Sgt McEntee continued.
The court was told Cunningham's frustration intensified to such an extent that 'gardaí could hear the grinding of his teeth' in a show of unbridled anger which coincided with his arrest.
Less than three months later, Judge Jones was told of how Cunningham was arrested for a second time where he was found once again in a 'highly intoxicated' state.
Unlike the earlier episode, however, Cunningham on this occasion provided gardaí with a false name which ultimately led to his arrest and subsequent prosecution.
Upon hearing the State's evidence, to which Cunningham pleaded guilty to, Judge Jones ordered him to spend a period of time in the holding cells of Monaghan Courthouse.
When the case was recalled, defence solicitor Niall Fox said while the charges were of 'some vintage' dating back six years, there were certain mitigating factors at play.
'On both occasions, he was very heavily intoxicated,' he said.
'It's not an excuse but he had been the subject of a very serious assault and didn't want to explain that to the guards.'
Mr Fox contended his client was very much contrite over his actions on both occasions, adding how the hour and half spent in custody had provided a 'very salutary' lesson for him.
And, in a bid to convey that sense of remorse to the court, Mr Fox said Cunningham would not be opposing the court to hold onto €750 in bail monies which had been previously handed in.
Judge Jones subsequently accepted that offer by allocating the three figure sum to the court poor box before striking out the case.