Electrician slapped garda on the face and ran away

An electrician who slapped a garda on the face while she was dealing with an unruly situation on the street was sentenced to five months in jail yesterday.

Judge Con O’Leary imposed a three-month sentence on Gary Keane, aged 29, of 7 Barrett’s Terrace, Gurranabraher, Cork, for threatening behaviour arising out of the slap.

The judge imposed a concurrent five-month sentence for resisting arrest by another garda.

Solicitor Frank Buttimer, defending, said that Keane disputed the description of slapping Garda Elaine Howard’s cheek but accepted that he did touch her on the cheek with his hand.

Keane, who pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour and resisting arrest, spoke across his solicitor at one point and said: “I didn’t hit anyone.”

Judge O’Leary said that rather than hearing the outline of the prosecution case from Inspector Gary McPolin following Keane’s plea of guilty he could put sentencing back to hear directly from Garda Howard.

Mr Buttimer said that would not be necessary from the defendant’s point of view.

Insp Gary McPolin said residents on MacCurtain St in Cork City complained to gardaí about a noisy disturbance at about 4am on Aug 28.

Gardaí arrived and told a group of about eight to quieten down and to move away from the area.

As Garda Howard was addressing the group Keane slapped her on the cheek, according to Insp McPolin.

Keane then ran away and jeered at a garda who was chasing him: “You can’t catch me, you’re only a fucking geriatric.”

Garda Thomas Ahearne caught the defendant and had to put handcuffs on him in order to restrain him.

Mr Buttimer said the young man was planning to travel to Calgary in Canada to take up a job.