Takeaway employee threw curry container at Garda patrol van
By Brendan Grehan
A TAKEAWAY worker threw a curry container at a garda van because he thought a customer had thrown it at him.
Hui Trinh, aged 27, with an address at Kilmahuddrick Way, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour and criminal damage at Kiltalown Way, Tallaght, on June 13, 2017.
Sergeant Eithne Madden told Judge Bernadette Owens in Tallaght Court, that gardai were on mobile patrol at 7.35pm on the above date when they saw a crowd outside a takeaway.
A female customer was upset and claimed that youths had thrown eggs at her car and her daughter had been hit. The woman then threw a container of curry toward the door of the takeaway, just as Trinh came out to see what was going on.
Trinh thought the food had been thrown at him. He picked it up and threw it back, but it hit the garda patrol van. He also thought that the woman had called him names, and he reacted badly. The vehicle had to be professionally cleaned, which cost €50.
The court heard Trinh had never been in trouble before.
Trinh’s solicitor, Michael Hennessy, stressed to Judge Owens that the incident outside the takeaway had nothing to do with his client.
He said Trinh had heard shouting and had gone outside to see if he could help.
He thought that the woman had thrown food at him, and he reacted angrily, the solicitor said.
The court heard that Trinh is originally from Vietnam but is an Irish citizen.
Mr Hennessy asked the judge to leave Trinh without a conviction, saying he hopes to travel to Australia before Christmas.
Judge Owens struck out the case after Trinh paid €100 to the Garda Benevolent Fund and €50 for the cleaning of the van.
