Teen who broke garda's teeth to carry out community work

A teenager who kicked a garda in the mouth breaking his teeth is to carry out 240 hours of work in the community in lieu of two years in prison.

Wayne O’Callaghan (aged 19), of Sheelin Grove, Ballybrack, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm on Garda Michael Hall in the early hours of October 26, 2002.

Garda Hall told Mr Conor Bowman BL, prosecuting, he was called to The Deerhunter Pub in Glenageary at 1.45am. And when gardaí arrived, a group of four youths who were drinking outside the pub made off in the driection of Dalkey.

As they jumped over a wall into a private house, he grabbed the defendant by the leg and received a full force kick in the mouth which broke his teeth.

Judge Desmond Hogan heard that O’Callaghan, who had just turned 17 at the time of the offence, has no previous convictions and had not come to garda attention since the assault.

As a token of remorse he brought €1,500 to court to cover garda Hall’s medical expenses. Garda Hall said he bore O’Callaghan "no ill will".

Judge Hogan said it appeared unlikely O’Callaghan would come before the court again and ordered that his suitability for work in the community be assesed before sentencing on April 6, 2005.