Man who claimed to be pope bit garda, court told

A man who claimed he was the pope bit a garda when he tried to arrest him for being drunk and disorderly.

Sean McLaughlin was told by gardaí to go home when they encountered him in Buncrana, Co Donegal, in the early hours of Sunday morning last.

He roared ‘wankers’ twice at gardaí and then gave them the ‘middle finger.’ When asked for his name, he told gardaí he was “John Paul the pope.”

McLaughlin, of Cloontagh, Clonmany, was then arrested but as he was being cautioned, he bit one of the arresting gardaí.

Letterkenny District Court was told McLaughlin, aged 23, remembered little about the incident as he had been drinking heavily. He had returned from Australia for Christmas.

Solicitor Frank Dorrian said his client had no excuse or reason for his actions as he had never been in trouble before and had no malice towards the gardaí. He said he was clearly under the influence of alcohol and apologised to the court.

His parents were with him in court and were also clearly deeply embarrassed by what had happened, added Mr Dorrian.

Mr Dorrian said his client was due on a flight back to Australia last night at 10pm which he planned to be on.

Judge Paul Kelly asked the court how serious the bite to the garda had been. He was told he had attended Nowdoc and had received a tetanus injection as a precaution.

Judge Kelly said it was McLaughlin’s first offence and that the assault was at the lower end of the scale.

He ordered McLaughlin to pay €300 to St Vincent De Paul and agreed to strike all matters out.