“This is probably the most foul-mouthed abuse I have ever heard” Judge tells teen
By Brendan Grehan
A LUCAN teenager who verbally abused a garda will have to do 50 hours of voluntary work, write a letter of apology and pay €100 to the Blanchardstown Hospice.
Dealing with Cein Dempsey’s case, Judge David McHugh told Blanchardstown District Court: “I have sat on the bench for 10 years and I have never heard such venom towards a garda coming from a young person before. This is possibly the most foul-mouthed abuse I have ever heard.”
Dempsey (19), Abbeywood Court, Lucan, pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour and failing to comply with a garda’s directions at Castle Road, Lucan, on March 19, 2017.
Sergeant Maria Callaghan told the court that at 9.50pm on March 19 last, the gardai had been called to Castle Road as there was a report that a group of teenagers were smoking drugs and being abusive to passersby.
Arriving at the scene, a garda told the group of teenagers to leave the area.
Sgt Callaghan said Dempsey told the garda: “What the f**k are you doing here.” She said Dempsey failed to move on and the garda then directed him to move on under Section 8 of the Public Order Act.
Sgt Callaghan said: “He (Dempsey) told the garda: ‘ I’m not going anywhere. I’m directing you to get out of here. Get out of here in your cop car.’”
Sgt Callaghan said Dempsey was then arrested. She said he had no previous convictions.
Dempsey’s defence lawyer told Judge McHugh that the case was a perfect example that you should never say anything that you would want repeated back in court. He said Dempsey is currently an apprentice plumber and lives with his mother.
He said Dempsey’s mother felt responsible for her son ending up in court.
Judge McHugh told the court: “I have sat on the bench for 10 years and I have never heard such venom towards a garda coming from a young person before. This is possibly the most foul-mouthed abuse I have ever heard.”
He said he would put the case back for a restorative justice report and he wanted Dempsey to do 50 hours voluntary work with a local organisation.
He also has to write a letter of apology to the garda and to pay €100 to the Blanchardstown Hospice. He said that if all three were completed he would consider striking the case out.