Gardaí verbally abused after being called to Mayo premises

GARDAÍ who were called to a premises in Castlebar following a complaint that staff were being verbally abused found themselves the targets for verbal abuse when they arrived at the scene.

Arising from the incident, which occurred on New Year’s Eve of 2024, Fred Coffey (37), Harristown Halting Site, Castlerea, appeared at Castlebar Court on two counts under the Public Order Act relating to threatening and abusive behaviour.

Garda Inspector Colm MacDonnachada outlined the facts in the case which related to the Ellison Hotel, Castlebar, where a call had been made to Castlebar Garda Station in relation to staff working in the premises being verbally abused.

On arrival at the premises at 1.07 in the morning, gardaí were told to f… off, having been threatened by the same group that had been abusing the staff.

“The defendant called the gardaí ‘pigs’ and was very threatening and abusive,” said the Inspector.

The court heard the defendant had six prevision convictions, including one for threatening and abusive behaviour back in 2010, but he had not been before the courts for over 15 years.

Mr. Gary Mulchrone, solicitor for the defendant, said his client had gone to Castlebar from Castlerea for a night out with family and friends.

“He is very apologetic for this attitude on the night in question and wishes to apologise for his behaviour, in particular to Garda Maura Hopkins.”

Added Mr. Mulchrone: “No violence was used but this was unacceptable behaviour by my client who is aged 37 and is a married man with five children who spends a lot of time working abroad, mostly in Germany, as a roofer.”

The defendant apologised for his behaviour and said he should not have done what he had done and said on the night in question.

Judge Sandra Murphy described the behaviour of the defendant as despicable.

Judge Murphy said calling gardaí ‘pigs’ was most disrespectful.

“It is the same members of An Garda Síochána who are expected to respond to all sort of emergency situations to protect the public and they have enough to do without having to put up with treatment like this which is just not acceptable and will not be tolerated,” she said.

She noted that the defendant had a previous conviction for one of the charges he was before the court on.

“That is something you have to deal with as it is not in any way becoming,” she added.

The judge did acknowledge the apologies proffered in court and the fact that the defendant, who has a young family and a wife, had not been in trouble for 15 years.

She convicted the defendant on the Section 6 charge and imposed a fine of €500 while the Section 4 charge was taken into consideration.

(Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme).