Gardaí told they’d have throats cut

Gardaí were threatened they would have their throats cut and get shot in the head when they went to help a man to get medical care from an ambulance crew. Paul Woods, aged 44, of Cork Simon community, was jailed for two months yesterday for his threatening comments to An Garda Síochána.

Sergeant John Kelleher said that at approximately 5.30pm on Sunday, January 27, gardaí Conor Cronin and Paul Dromey attended responded to a call to attend at Parnell Place where it was alleged that a man had fallen on the footpath.

“On arrival Garda Cronin identified this male as Paul Woods. Gardaí helped this male to his feet and he was being assisted into an ambulance.

“Paul Woods was intoxicated and he was unable to stand unaided and he was slurring his words. Paul Woods became highly aggressive to gardaí stating: ‘I’ve two buddies who’ll shoot ye. I’ll cut yere throats, ye’ll get a bullet in the forehead. A member of the public was present when this was taking place. He was conveyed to the Bridewell. He had to be handcuffed by gardaí,” said Sgt Kelleher.

Sgt Kelleher said the defendant’s previous convictions included 18 counts of being drunk and a danger and nine for engaging in threatening behaviour — the two charges to which he pleaded guilty yesterday.

Joseph Cuddigan said it was significant that Woods was charged with threatening behaviour under the Public Order Act and not one of making a threat to kill.

“He was lying on the footpath asleep. In his sleeping bag a member of the public passing him kicked him in the face. It could have been that he did not know (later) who the gardaí were and he reacted verbally, which would not be characteristic of him,” said Mr Cuddigan.

The judge said the threatening behaviour was still a serious charge and he imposed the two-month sentence.