Man (41) who headbutted Garda is sentenced to 200 hours community service
By Brendan Grehan
A MAN (41) who headbutted a Garda in the back of a patrol car has been sentenced to 200 hours community service by Blanchardstown District Court.
Neil Walsh had earlier been arrested after he was walking through Finglas with a sledge hammer.
Walsh, with an address at Walkinstown Avenue, Walkinstown, pleaded guilty to possession of a sledgehammer and assaulting Garda Ciaran Cummins on Finglas Wood Road, Finglas, on July 26, 2018.
Garda Paul Fanning told Judge David McHugh that he had been on patrol at 11.11pm in Finglas on the above date when he observed Walsh carrying a sledge hammer.
He said he asked Walsh why he had the implement and Walsh became abusive and then refused to put down the sledge hammer.
Garda Fanning said he was forced to use his ac spray to pacify Walsh. Walsh was arrested and taken to Finglas Garda Station. On the journey back to the station Walsh headbutted Garda Cummins in the face.
Garda Fanning told the court that when Walsh arrived in the Garda station he had a laceration to his face so he was taken to JCM hospital for treatment and was later released and returned to the station.
Garda Fanning said Walsh has 41 previous convictions, of which 10 were for road traffic and two were for criminal damage.
Walsh’s counsel, Ciaran MacLoughlin Bl , said his client had been assaulted before the incident by a group of people outside his house.
Judge McHugh sentenced Walsh to 200 hours community service with four months jail in default.
