Two cousins have been jailed after they threatened and verbally abused gardaí who were escorting an ambulance on its way to aid a man.
Kevin McCahill (25) of 166 St. Mary’s Terrace, Rathmullan and Shane Patterson (23) of Aughnagaddy, Ramelton were sentenced to eight and nine months in prison respectively and after pleading guilty to public order incidents.
Judge Paul Kelly said he “absolutely could not tolerate such behaviour” after he heard how gardaí had to use incapacitating spray on both men during a public order incident in Ramelton.
Inspector David Kelly told the court that ambulance control had requested garda assistance after experience a large crowd when trying to come to the aid of an injured man in Ramelton on July 8th, 2012. Both defendants were aggressive to gardaí and shouted abuse and threatened them.
Garda McManus feared he was going to be assaulted and drew his incapacitating spray and used it on Patton. Patton told the garda that he would “burn your f**king house down”. McCahill then lounged at Garda McManus and swung a punch at him. Gardaí also had to use incapacitating spray on McCahill. McCahill was arrested and Patton was apprehended after he ran from the scene.
McCahill also pleaded guilty to drink driving at Meadowhill, Letterkenny in November, 2011 and public order offences outside the Golden grill nightclub in Letterkenny on March 18th last. His previous convictions included assault, criminal damage and dangerous driving.
The court heard that Patton had 20 previous convictions that included public order offences.
Solicitor Patsy Gallagher said the two men were very sorry for their behaviour and apologised. He said both have been out of work for some time and alcohol has become a major part of their lives.
Judge Kelly said both men had been before the court on a significant number of occasions for serious offences.
He said it was not acceptable that emergency services trying to attend to someone in need should be confronted with such thuggery.
He rejected an application from Mr. Gallagher to impose suspended sentences saying both men had enough chances.
McCahill was imprisoned for a total of nine months, fined 850 euro and disqualified from diving for three years.
Patterson, who had received four suspended sentences in the previous two years, was jailed for nine months and fined 200 euro.