Men refused bail over disturbance at halting site

ONE garda was hospitalised with a serious eye injury and his colleague was chased by a man with a slash hook after a disturbance at a Travellers’ campsite on Sunday morning and early afternoon.

Three gardaí were injured and several cars were damaged in the incident.

“Implements used included slash hooks and iron bars. Rocks were used as missiles fired at garda members and at civilian vehicles,” said Sergeant Edward Geary.

Members of the public were injured as a result of various missiles being thrown as they passed and gardaí had to wear protective gear, including armour, helmets and shields when they faced the men.

The incident went on for four hours, from 10am until 2pm reported Sergeant Geary.

Garda Michael O’Brien said that one of the men “went straight for me with a slash hook. I sat in an official patrol car and he pursued me. He hit the side of the car with the hook”.

Inspector Colm O’Sullivan said garda Florence O’Sullivan was injured when glass went into his eyeball and the area surrounding his eye — caused by the windscreen being beaten in around him.

Judge Tim Lucey refused bail after gardaí opposed the release of the men and remanded the three in custody until their appearance at Cork District Court on Friday.

Sergeant Geary said the gardaí were opposing bail because of the seriousness of the incident which occurred at Killalough, Glanmire, Co Cork .

“If they are released on bail they may commit other serious offences,” he added.

The men were apparently distraught after the death of their uncle, William O’Driscoll of Kenley, who was killed in a car crash on Saturday.

John Paul O’Driscoll, aged 20, has been charged with assault causing harm to Garda O’Donoghue, assaulting and resisting or obstructing Garda Aherne, damaging a patrol car, carrying a slash hook and being drunk and threatening.

Jason O’Driscoll, aged 25, is accused of having an iron bar for threatening the gardaí, obstructing Sergeant Edward J Geary and being threatening to such an extent as to cause a breach of the peace.

Christy O’Driscoll, aged 25, is charged with obstructing and assaulting Garda Heffernan, damaging two patrol cars, having a steel bar and a slash hook, being drunk and threatening and leaving the Texaco service station in Sallybrook, Glanmire, without paying for petrol.

John Paul and Christy are brothers and Jason is their cousin. They are all nephews of the man killed in the car crash.

Diarmuid Kelleher, solicitor, said all three were anxious to get to the funeral of their uncle. As bail has been refused, it is now a matter for the prison authorities to decide if there is any possibility of bringing the defendants to the funeral on Wednesday.