Judge warns of more ‘severe’ jail time for public order offences
Judge Con O’Leary warned of severe prison sentences in the future as he jailed one man for five months for resisting arrest during a drunken disturbance.
“There seems to be a presumption that gardaí should be taken on. And I don’t think much of that sort of behaviour,” Judge O’Leary said.
He jailed Michael John Butler, of 5 Churchfield Terrace East, for five months for obstructing Garda Brian Henderson.
Defence solicitor Joseph Cuddigan said the defendant had a quite chaotic lifestyle and had missed out on education. He said the defendant was now addressing this for the first time and asked the judge to allow Butler to continue on the educational programme he had undertaken.
Inspector Mary King said Butler, who is aged around 30, was with a young woman and was drinking in the Churchfield area.
Butler became so aggressive with Garda Henderson that pepper spray had to be used to restrain him and he had to be forced to the ground and handcuffed. Butler had 112 previous convictions.
“I am quite concerned about what appears to be an increasing public order difficulty in certain parts of the city,” Judge O’Leary said.
In an unrelated case which was adjourned, the judge also commented: “Some people seem to think they can run the neighbourhood their way. This is happening more and more.”
The judge then warned of severe custodial sentences for people misbehaving towards gardaí.
