Drunk man fell in river then shouted at gardaí

A DRUNK man who fell into the river on New Year’s Day refused assistance from an ambulance crew and abused gardaí at the scene.

Justin Grace, aged 28, of 29 The Pines, Westwood, Carrigaline, Co Cork, was given a suspended jail sentence and community service order for this and a more recent incident.

Inspector Bill Duane said gardaí responded to a call to the community complex in Carrigaline at around 8pm on January 1, 2010, where a man had fallen in the river.

They arrived to find Grace soaked to the skin and highly intoxicated.

Gardaí went to arrest him for his own safety but he responded by pushing one garda and shouting at them.

When an ambulance was called, he refused treatment.

Insp Duane said a second incident occurred on August 21 at Grace’s home, when he was again drunk.

On this occasion, he shouted at Garda Patrick Healy, saying he was only a rookie and that he would get him and his girlfriend.

Judge Riordan ordered Grace to do 75 hours of community service instead of two months in prison.

A two-month sentence was suspended on condition that Grace keep the peace for two years.