Pepper-sprayed at garda station for his own safety
A 30-year-old man who failed to take up appointments with the probation service has been remanded on continuing bail to 22 January.
The district court heard that John Joyce, 25 Doolargy Avenue, Muirhevnamór, had moved back to Dundalk from Drogheda after being notified by gardaí of a threat to his life.
Judge McKiernan said he had been offered three appointments since the last day in court and didn’t keep any of them.
‘ There is only so much the probation service can do.’
It was stated on behalf of the defendant that his behaviour had stabilised since he moved back home to his parents.
He is on a methadone programme and had not come to garda attention in the intervening period.
The judge adjourned the case to the January date for an updated probation report.
Sgt Fintan McGroder gave evidence that at 3.15am on 15 June, 2018, in Francis Street gardaí were dealing with an assault when Joyce engaged in threatening behaviour and prevented them from going about their duty.
He was ‘ highly agitated’ and began kicking and punching at officers.
There was a smell of drink from him, his speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet.
Following Joyce’s arrest, he told guards at the station they would be ‘pushing up daisies’.
He had to be pepper-strayed for his own safety as he tried to put a t-shirt, which he had cut up, around his neck and was repeatedly banging his head in the cell.
On 25 October, 2018, the accused and another individual were found asleep in a room of an abandoned house in Hoey’s Lane.
Four days later, when told he was going to be searched for drugs, Joyce cycled away and was seen putting something in a sock.