Jail ‘cannot be avoided’ for verbal abuse of gardaí

Gardaí were verbally abused as “pigs” and one was called “a fucking lesbian” by a man at the height of a disturbance.

Yesterday, a district judge said a jail term could not be avoided.

Jason Wall, aged 28, of 7 Belmont Court, Garryduff, Douglas, Cork, was sentenced to 14 days in prison for his threatening and abusive at Cove St, Cork, on November 20, 2015.

Judge O’Leary said that, with 21 previous convictions, the accused must have known that he was putting himself at risk of jail for his outburst to gardaí on the night.

The judge recalled that gardaí had to be called to the scene because of what he described as very unpleasant behaviour to people in the taxi office, and that this behaviour continued towards gardaí.

Eddie Burke, solicitor, said the defendant’s mother was depending on her son for support, and that he was extremely anxious to stay out of jail for her sake.

Mr Burke said Wall had a disagreement his partner that night, and was put out of the apartment where he had his money.

He said he explained to the taxi people that he could get money at home if they brought him there but they were not agreeable. He then became abusive to them.

Inspector Mary King outlined the nature of the verbal abusive from Wall, including the words addressed to gardaí on the night.

Mr Burke stressed that the accused had been out of trouble since this occurred almost a year ago. Bail of €100 pending any appeal of this sentence was granted.