Drunk man bit garda in groin during arrest

A man who bit a garda in the groin has been fined €1,000.

Lee McDermott admitted assaulting the garda during a disturbance in Co Donegal.

The garda and some other members had gone to the assistance of a woman who was drunk in the car park of Eurospar in Buncrana on May 13, 2012.

McDermott arrived on the scene and refused to leave, then resisted arrest.

Garda Insp David Murphy told Buncrana District Court: “The defendant refused to leave the area so gardaí went to arrest him. He resisted arrest and bit the garda on the groin, causing a break to the skin.

“I spoke to him when he had been off on sick leave following the incident and he was certainly full of angst while he awaited test results. Thankfully there was no further physical damage.”

The court heard McDermott still had issues with alcohol and he was at a modest risk of reoffending.

McDermott, aged 19, of Meenagorey, Buncrana, gathered the €1,000 in compensation from family and friends.

The money was offered to the injured party, but the garda said he did not want compensation and just wanted the case dealt with.

Solicitor for McDermott, Ciarán MacLochlainn, had told the court that the incident had caused great embarrassment to McDermott and his family

“His parents were shocked to learn what he did and they are upstanding members of the community,” he said. “But he just had too much to drink that night. The girl as well was very embarrassed by it but they both drank themselves into a stupor.”

Mr MacLochlainn said the money could be donated to a heart charity at the request of his client.

However, Judge Paul Kelly said he would like the cash to go to the Whiteoaks Treatment Centre in light of McDermott’s history with alcohol issues.