‘Stop acting the eejit… get off the old drugs’

A 51-year-old who claimed he was being “picked on” by “only Killarney gardaí”, is on a dossier of drug suspects held in Killarney Garda Station, it emerged during a case in which he denied obstructing a garda who suspected him of having drugs.

Daniel “Benjy” Riordan from Killarney, and now of 13 Shallee Drive, Cloughleigh, Ennis, Co Clare, had denied obstruction of Garda Stephen Hourigan during a drugs search at Beech Road car park on December 23, 2015.

Heated exchanges took place in the case at Killarney District Court.

In evidence, O’Riordan, who has three children and a grandchild, and also formerly of north Cork, said gardaí in other areas only stopped him on road tax and such matters but it was only in Killarney the gardaí “hassled him”.

He has 36 previous convictions, including 13 for public order and others for assault, criminal damage, and burglary. A small number concern drugs.

Judge James O’Connor said he was requested to spit out what he had swallowed, but did not.

Convicting O’Riordan, the judge said it was time for him to “stop acting the eejit”.

“Get off the old drugs and straighten yourself out”.

He fined him €350. He has 10 months to pay.