Drunk TD’S f-word rant at gardai...
td admits verbally abusing gardai called to noisy bash at his home
to of A TD pleaded guilty yesterday to charges of intoxication and threatening and abusive behaviour after telling gardai to “f**k off”.
Sinn Fein Deputy Pat Buckley verbally abused the officers when they called at his home to tell him to turn down loud music at a party.
The 49-year-old, of Holly Ridge, Broomfield West in Midleton, Co Cork, was celebrating the graduation of one of his children from school.
Inspector Tony O’sullivan told the court that on August 18 last year, gardai went to the politician’s house because of a noise complaint. The accused came to the door and said: “I don’t need to tell you lot anything.”
As the officers were leaving he ran out of the house.
Insp O’sullivan said: “He called a garda an asshole and told the members to f**k off and demanded to know who made the complaint.”
He added Buckley’s sister repeatedly tried to “hold back” the now “aggressive” deputy.
Defence solicitor Henry Mccourt told Midleton District Court his client had no previous convictions except for a road traffic matter.
The TD, then a local councillor, received a three-year ban in 2014 for
a drink-driving offence. Mr Mccourt described his client as a “married man with two children celebrating a child’s graduation from school”.
He said his home was full with people, friends and neighbours at the time.
The solicitor added: “The music got a bit loud [and for this he] apologises in full.”
Judge Brian Sheridan adjourned the case for six months until November 8 to pass sentence.
As he left court, Deputy Buckley told the Irish Mirror he did not wish to speak, adding: “I have to drive to Dublin to talk about mental health tonight.” He asked our reporter to contact the Sinn Fein press office for a statement. They have not responded to our request.
Buckley served from 2014 to 2016 as a high-profile town councillor in Midleton, where he became known as a mental health advocate.
He won his seat at the last election following an internal rift in which former Cork East TD Sandra Mclellan declined to run, claiming she was being bullied by constituency activists.
Deputy Buckley’s previous brush with the law saw him being convicted of drink-driving after an arrest on June 9, 2013.
He was banned from the roads for three years and fined €500.