Man (50s) who kicked garda in the face and gave ‘good hiding' to security guard jailed

Sunday World

14 hours ago

Garda McGill said he had been left with soft tissue bruising to the face in what Judge Finnegan described as 'vicious assaults'
A man in his 50s who gave a 'good hiding' to a bus station security guard before meting out two blows to a garda in the back of a patrol car during the course of a 'vicious' double assault in Cavan has been jailed for 13 months.
Judge Raymond Finnegan told 53-year-old Ronan Cahill he had been left with little option but to impose a lengthy custodial sentence on him following an incident at Cavan Bus Station, Farnham Street, Cavan on July 5, 2023.
Cahill, of Cloughergoole, Virginia, Cavan was convicted of both offences together with the wilful obstruction of Garda Niall McGill at a sitting of Cavan District Court.
State evidence in connection to the case had been relayed at a previous court sitting where it was revealed how Cahill had assaulted a security guard at the county town's bus station during his attempts to gain access to its yard shortly after 1am.
Ronan Cahill.
News in 90 Seconds - 15th June 2025
It was during those attempts that Cahill came across his victim who he verbally abused before he kicked him in the groin.
When gardaí were called, the accused became aggressive to such an extent that he landed two kicks to the face of Garda McGill in the back of a patrol car during the course of his arrest.
Taking the witness stand, Garda McGill said he had been left with soft tissue bruising to the face in what Judge Finnegan described as 'vicious assaults' Cahill had administered on both his victims.
The court was told Cahill had 19 previous convictions to his name, the majority of which were for public order related offences.
In defence, Damien Rudden said his client was a single man who had been labouring under an alcohol dependency at the time of the incident.
In turning towards his client, Mr Rudden asked Cahill if he wished to address Garda McGill publicly.
Ronan Cahill being led away from Cavan Courthouse.
'From my understanding, I was thrown into the back of the car,' he said, in a statement which caused Mr Rudden to interject and advise Cahill he had, in fact, been convicted with an opportunity now being afforded to him to apologise.
That elicited a short, but frank response from Cahill who replied with the words: 'I am sorry.'
Judge Finnegan, however, stressed the only remedy open to the court given the severity of the incident was that of a spell behind bars.
'I am sure Mr Cahill it has been explained to you as to my attitude over anyone interfering with members of An Garda Síochána in the course of their duty,' he told him.
Judge Finnegan branded his behaviour towards Garda McGill as 'particularly vicious' and adopted an even more indignant stance in terms of the 'good hiding' he gave to the staff member at Cavan Bus Station on the day of the incident.
'The only way I can see fit to deal with this is by way of a lengthy prison sentence,' he told Cahill.
The Cavan man was subsequently sentenced to five months in prison for the obstruction charge, together with two separate four month consecutive terms for both of the assaults.
Mr Rudden said his client would be seeking recognisances to be fixed in the event of an appeal when Judge Finnegan confirmed Cahill was facing an overall spell of 13 months behind bars.
Judge Finnegan said the court would be seeking an independent surety of €1,000 which, he stressed, must be lodged and approved in advance of any appeal being made.
In rubberstamping that request, Judge Finnegan told Cahill as he was led away: 'I won't tolerate that in my district.'