This article is from page 8 of the 2005-09-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
AN ENNIS man who 1s alleged to have threatened he would ‘get’ a garda when he was off-duty, has had public order charges against him dismissed.
David Gormley (19), with an ad- dress at Maiville, Kilrush road, En- nis, was charged with the offences in Ennis on March 17 of this year.
Garda Stephen Hession _ told Kildysart court that the accused was shouting at Parnell Street, at 10pm on the night 1n question.
“He appeared to be intoxicated and was very aggressive,’ said Gda Hession.
The court was told that he refused to give the garda his address and when asked for it, said, “Why the *** do | have to give you my ad- dress. I’1] get you when your hat and ID is off”.
When asked to leave the area, the accused started making threats at the garda, the court heard. “As he was walking through the Market area, he kept shouting and making threats at me. He said ‘I’ll get you
without the hat’’, said Gda Hes- sion.
Defending solicitor John Casey said his client was going home, along the Kilrush Road, as he had been ordered to do, but the garda continued to follow him and this frustrated the defendant. “He will admit he told you to f*** off. He was going home if you would leave him to go home,” said the solicitor.
But the garda said the accused
made “numerous, very specific threats” to get him while he was Oe RrelIAs
Mr Gormley told the court that the garda called him “a little sh**” and he gave a bit of abuse back. He admitted saying he would have “no problem finding” the garda any time. ‘He was telling me to go home but he wouldn’t let me go home,” said the accused.
Mr Casey said there was some doubt about what happened and said the onus was on the State to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.
Judge Joseph Mangan dismissed the charges against Mr Gormley.