Man grabbed garda by throat

A young man who was so intent on getting back to his flat — even though the building was sealed off as a crime scene following a fire — caught a garda protecting the area by the throat.

Dylan Carroll, 21, was living at a flat at Windsor Place, Ballyhooly Road, Cork, at the time.

Inspector John Deasy explained yesterday that there had been a fire at the property on July 2, 2013. It was declared a crime scene on the basis of evidence of how the fire appeared to have been started in one of the flats.

Carroll was not present in the building, and his flat was not damaged by fire. However, when he returned he was intoxicated.

Garda Gavin Barry was on duty and told Carroll nobody was allowed into the building. Insp John Deasy said the accused wouldn’t take no for an answer. “He grabbed Garda Barry by the throat and attempted to strike him.”

Judge Con O’Leary imposed a five-month jail sentence on Carroll for the assault. Judge O’Leary said gardaí had a job to do and people could not go around grabbing them by the throat.