Drink driver to garda: ‘I know where you live’

A drink driver with heroin and cocaine in his pocket tried to walk away from gardaí but when one officer caught and handcuffed him on the ground the culprit shouted: “I know where you live. I will get you.”

Don Kelleher, 33, of 2 Orchard Mews, Blackrock, Cork, was sentenced to five months in jail yesterday for resisting Garda David Noonan on July 25, 2014. He was also banned from driving for 15 years.

Defence solicitor Shane Collins-Daly said the defendant acknowledged that he had a litany of previous convictions but he said he had not come to the attention of the gardaí since this incident one-and-a-half years ago.

Mr Collins-Daly said the accused came from a very respectable family but he said he ended up abusing alcohol and drugs in the past and ending up with an addiction to cocaine and heroin while also abusing alcohol and cannabis.

“He has been attending the probation service since October and attending drug counselling. He has been clear of drugs since October 2015.

“He accepts his behaviour was reckless and it was an appalling reaction to the guards. He has not come to garda attention since this time,” Mr Collins-Daly said.

Judge Olann Kelleher imposed an overall sentence of five months for offences that included obstructing gardaí and driving without insurance, and for having the heroin and cocaine for his own use.

Inspector Fergal Foley said that at 1.15 on the morning of July 25, 2014, gardaí observed Kelleher’s car swerving before taking an exaggerated turn in to Orchard Mews where he walked away. Unsteady on his feet, Kelleher began to run away and resisted arrest by lashing out. As the guard held him down on the ground and tried to handcuff him the threatening remark was made by the accused.