‘I wanted you to shoot me’ man tells armed Gardai
By Brendan Grehan
A MAN who was tasered by armed gardai after he attempted to drive at them in a Supermarket car park asked them “I thought you would shoot me. Why didn’t you shoot me. I wanted you to shoot me”.
Judge David McHugh sentenced Paul Hogan to three months jail, suspended for 18 months.
The incident occurred at the Supervalu car park in Lucan
Sergeant Maria Callaghan told Judge McHugh in Blanchardstown District Court that on the afternoon of October 12, 2016, Hogan’s ex-partner had called the gardai to say she was in fear of Hogan as he had called to her home and she had a protection order against him.
She said that Hogan wanted to see his children and threatened to go to their school.
Hogan had then driven to the school in Lucan but was unable to see the children.
He then proceeded to drive dangerously and drove the wrong way down the Newcastle Road and through a pedestrian crossing before driving into the Supervalu Car Park where he attempted to drive at a garda car.
Sgt Callaghan said Hogan was then involved in a stand off with armed gardai and he was tasered before being arrested.
Hogan, aged 33, with addresses at Sundale Park, Tallaght, and Westway View, Corduff, Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at the SuperValu car park, Newcastle Road, Lucan, on October 12, 2016.
He also pleaded guilty to contravening a protection order by putting a named female in fear at Archbishop Ryan School, Lucan, also on October 12, 2016.
Sgt Callaghan said Hogan has 25 previous convictions.
At Tallaght Court on March 30, 2017, he had received a €100 fine and a four-year ban for drunken driving.
He also had a number for road traffic offences including a number for speeding.
Hogan’s solicitor, Simon Fleming, said that at the time of the incident his client had psychiatric difficulties and he produced a medical report.
He said Hogan was now back with his partner.
Mr Fleming said that the statements from one of the gardai after he tasered Hogan said that Hogan told him: “I thought you would shoot me. Why didn’t you shoot me. I wanted you to shoot me.”
Judge McHugh said Hogan had driven in a very dangerous manner by driving down the wrong way of the road and through a pedestrian crossing.
He said he accepted that Hogan was going through psychiatric difficulties at the time.
He added: “To say he handled it badly is putting it mildly.”
He sentenced Hogan to three months jail, suspended for 18 months with a two year driving ban and took the remaining offence into consideration.
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