Teen ‘foamed at the mouth’ while verbally abusing garda

A TEENAGE soccer fan was foaming at the mouth when he threatened to punch a garda who had directed him to stay off the pitch during an Eircom League match between Bohemians and Galway United at Terryland Park in Galway.

Garda Damien Gormally told Galway District Court he feared for his own safety and had to retreat when up to 100 Bohemian fans surrounded him and kept egging the youngster on.

Brendan Devlin, 21, of 4 Mount Prospect Park, Clontarf, Dublin, pleaded guilty to breaching the peace by being abusive and threatening towards Garda Gormally at Terryland Park, Galway, on April 7 last. He also pleaded guilty to not giving his name and address to the garda when asked to do so.

Garda Gormley said Devlin ran onto the pitch to celebrate a goal and he asked him to refrain from doing so again.

Devlin told the garda to “f**k off” and ran to the stand. Garda Gormley followed him and Devlin refused to give him his name and address. The garda explained to him that he could be arrested if he did not give his details to which Devlin replied: “If you lay a f**kin’ hand on me, you are getting a f**kin’ slap.”

The garda told Judge Mary Fahy he didn’t feel making an arrest was safe at that point so he left the stand area. He returned a short time later to speak to Devlin again but he was still aggressive and refused to give his details.

Garda Gormally said he was then surrounded by between 50 and 100 Bohemian fans who started chanting, egging Devlin on.

Devlin finally gave his name and address.

Devlin’s father told Judge Fahy he was shocked at his son’s behaviour and he blamed a combination of alcohol and being egged on by the other fans for what happened.

The teenager said he had apologised to Garda Gormally for his bad behaviour.

Judge Fahy fined him €400 for being abusive to the garda and fined him €300 for refusing to give his name, while a third charge of refusing to obey the directions of the garda was taken into account.