A MAN who took exception to being arrested and placed in a Garda van cost the state €250 to clean his spit off the floor of the vehicle, a judge was told.
Geoffrey O’Donoghue (51), with an address at McGarry House, Limerick, pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal damage to a Garda van and to spitting in the face of a Garda while under arrest.
The Garda was opening the hatch in the cell to check on Mr O’Donoghue when he was spat at, the court heard.
Both incidents happened on May 7 of this year after Gardaí arrested Mr O’Donoghue, who was intoxicated in public, Judge Patricia Harney was told.
Limerick District Court heard that Mr O’Donoghue has 66 previous convictions, for offences including criminal damage, obstruction of a Garda, misuse of drugs, possession of a flick knife, producing an article in the course of a fight, theft, 15 for public order offences, and 17 for being intoxicated in a public place.
His solicitor, Ms Sarah Ryan, told the court her client “doesn’t remember the incidents”.
“We have a doctors report – he knows he has been done by drinking. He was in custody for a period and he stabilised”.
Judge Partricia Harney described the accused man’s actions of spitting in a Garda van as “very distasteful”, adding that it was “shocking that when the cell slot was opened by someone enquiring after his welfare, he spat at him”.
“It’s terribly hard for Gardaí trying to take care of people like him,” Judge Harney said.
Judge Harney sentenced Mr O’Donoghue to eight weeks in jail for spitting at the Garda and took the incident in the van into consideration.
– Court Reporting Scheme