MAN SPAT ‘BLOOD, PHLEGM AND SALIVA’ AT GARDAÍ AND SAID HE HAD AIDS

GREYSTONES MAN IS REMANDED ON CONTINUING BAIL

A GREYSTONES man spat ‘ blood, phlegm and saliva’ into the faces of gardaí and a fire brigade paramedic before claiming he had AIDS, a court has heard.

Dillon Harris (22) of Kindlestown Park in Greystones, had crashed a stolen car into a wall after encountering gardaí. He recovered from being dazed, then became aggressive and had to be restrained in handcuffs.

Garda Gerard Whelan and Dublin Fire Brigade Sub Officer Peter Fitzgerald approached Harris after he had already spat at two other gardaí in a patrol van.

Sergeant Kirsten Summers revealed that when Garda Whelan opened the van, Harris lunged forward and spat ‘ blood, phlegm and saliva’ into the two men’s faces. He then said he had AIDS.

Harris pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to spraying blood at Garda Whelan, Garda Peter Byrne and Sub Officer Fitzgerald at East Wall Road, Dublin, on November 21, 2017.

He also pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle without the consent of its owner at East Wall Road and to reckless endangerment at Sheriff Street, Dublin, on the same date. He has no previous convictions.

Sgt Summers told Eoin Lawlor BL, prosecuting, that one pedestrian had to jump out of the way when the stolen Volkswagen Estate mounted a footpath. Harris also caused €3,456 damage to an Opel Corsa car before gardaí located him and he crashed into the wall.

The court heard Harris was deemed unfit for interview following arrest. He eventually consented to giving a blood sample, after initially refusing.

Sgt Summers agreed with Patrick Reynolds BL, defending, that this provided a lot of comfort to the people involved.

In a victim impact statement, the stolen car owners said they had bought the vehicle brand new with inheritance money. This vehicle was written off when Harris crashed it.

The court heard Harris was not involved in the car’s theft.

Sub Officer Fitzgerald said in his statement that this was the first time he had been spat at in 29 years serving with Dublin Fire Brigade.

Sgt Summers agreed with Mr Reynolds that the incident was ‘out of character’ for Harris and occurred after two traumatic events in his life, including the death of his close friend..

She further agreed Harris had appeared ‘out of his head’ on the day and that he is now dealing with his addiction problems in rehab. Sgt Summers told Mr Reynolds that she would be ‘very hopeful’ for Harris’s future as he has strong family support.

Mr Reynolds told Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin that his client is willing to raise compensation when he takes up the job waiting for him after rehab.

Judge Ní Chúlacháin remanded Harris on continuing bail until later this year, when she will impose sentence.