A LEADING Shell to Sea campaigner was sentenced to five months in prison last week for assaulting three senior Nial Harnett gardaí in Belmullet District Court in March of last year.

Niall Harnett (44), a native of Co. Clare, whose present address is Barnacuillew, Pollathomas, was found guilty at a special sitting of Belmullet District Court of assaulting Inspector Joseph Doherty, Sergeant Dermot Butler and Garda Hugh Egan on March 11, 2009.

The court heard Harnett launched himself 'rugby style' at the officers in incidents which occurred after the then presiding, Judge Mary Devins, had cleared the court to enable the hearing of a family law matter in camera.

At a special sitting last week Judge Gerard Haughton imposed the prison sentence on Harnett in respect of the assault charges.

The judge cleared the accused of a breach of public order on the same date.

Harnett pleaded guilty to a charge of obstructing traffic on the public roadway at Pollathomas as a wide load was being transported from the gas terminal at Bellanaboy to Glengad. He was fined €400 for this offence and was disqualified from driving for two years.

The defendant, who pleaded not guilty to the assault charges, said as he approached the back of the court to leave he could see a man he knew, Pat Deane, with Sergeant Butler standing in front of him.

Witness said he could see from the expression on Deane's face that he was uncomfortable and he asked him if he wanted him to witness the conversation. It was his view that Pat Deane was being detained.

Harnett said he was aggressively pushed aside by Sergeant Butler. He claimed the sergeant had grabbed his rucksack containing his laptop, files and camera and thrown it towards the door.

Witness further claimed he had been 'flung around' and 'manhandled' by the gardaí as he tried to get his bag.

It was completely untrue that he had assaulted Inspector Doherty by launching himself into the officer's back.

Cross-examined by Inspector Joe McKenna (prosecuting), Harnett denied that when asked to leave the courtroom by gardaí he 'lost the head' and did not want to go.

He also denied 'shouting' and 'roaring' and that he charged into Inspector Doherty's back on two occasions. It was possible he had 'bumped into him'.

Convicting the defendant on the assault charges, Judge Haughton said he had made what he described as 'a reckless attempt' to get into the court directing force at Sergeant Butler and Garda Egan.

"Nothing could be clearer," the judge stated adding: "I have not the slightest doubt."

The judge also said he was satisfied there had been an assault on Inspector Doherty.

He said the assault was committed in Harnett's attempt to set himself up as a protector of the rights of Mr. Deane notwithstanding the fact he had not been asked to do so.

He (Harnett) seemed to think he was above the law, that he was exempt from the law.

The judge said this type of attitude and behaviour could only lead to the breakdown of law and order and regular society.

Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal.