Man who threw keg at female garda’s face during arrest gets bail

A man accused of inflicting “serious injuries” on a female garda who was struck in the face with a beer keg at the weekend was granted bail yesterday.

Jason McTigue, aged 21, with an address at Connolly Park, Tullamore, Co Offaly, appeared before Tullamore District Court.

Sgt Barry Collins objected to bail due to the serious nature of the charges. He said the garda suffered serious injuries and will require medical attention for the foreseeable future.

The incident occurred when gardaí responded to reports of a man throwing beer kegs at premises on William St in Tullamore at 1am on Sunday.

Sgt Collins said two female officers arrived at the scene and ordered the man to stop. When he continued “they had to use their incapacitant spray”, he said.

As the garda went to arrest the man, he picked up an empty beer keg and “threw it directly in the face of a garda”, said Sgt Collins.

The defendant faces charges of assault causing harm, criminal damage, threatening and abusive behaviour, public intoxication, and obstructing a peace officer. However, his solicitor Sandra Mahon said: “I believe that bail should be granted on the basis that a strict curfew is put in place.”

Her client, who is unemployed and in receipt of legal aid, had been in custody since appearing at a special sitting of Portlaoise District Court on Sunday morning.

Judge Catherine Staines said: “There is no doubt that this is an extremely serious charge.” However, consenting to bail on strict conditions, she said it can be granted even on the most serious charges.

The defendant was ordered to observe a curfew, sign on at a Garda station three times a week, abstain from alcohol and stay out of all licensed premises.

Judge Staines warned the defendant that he would be returned immediately to court if he was seen drinking. He will reappear before Tullamore District Court next Wednesday.