Abusive garda must donate to charity

A GARDA found guilty of threatening and abusive behaviour will escape a criminal conviction if he makes a charitable donation of €250.

Willie O’Reilly, aged 31, of Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co Westmeath, pleaded not guilty to racially abusing an Englishman and threatening to drag his son by the throat to the guards after a row about a football.

But at Tullamore District Court Judge William Early said the case against the garda was conclusive and credible and he believed he’d been so irate he had abused the victim and his son in a particularly unpleasant manner.