Manfacing6 monthsjail forthreats
JUDGE CONVICTS MAN WHO WAS ‘ FROTHING AT THE MOUTH’ WITH RAGE
A Tubbercurry man who was “frothing at the mouth” while shouting into a Garda Sergeant’s face is facing a possible six month prison sentence.
Martin Ward ( 25) of The Halting Site, Tubbercurry, was convicted of three Public Order charges on Teeling Street and Doohan’s Shell Service Station on May 4th last year.
Ward appeared before Judge Kevin Kilrane at Tubbercury District Court last Wednesday.
The complainant, Mr Edward Keane, told the court he was on his bike cycling to a friends house around 4.30pm when he met the defendant and his wife in their car driving down Humbert Street.
“They were staring me out and saying ‘ You’re next, you’re next’,” he alleged.
The witness said he went into Doohan’s Service Station shop and called the Gardaí.
He said Ward came into the shop and said nothing to him, but returned a short while later at the same time Garda David Clarke arrived at the garage and Ward became verbally abusive.
Mr Keane said he used to know Ward five or six years ago and said there had been ongoing tensions between their families “for years.”
He said he rang the Gardaí from the manager’s office in the shop and stayed inside there until Garda Clarke arrived in his patrol car.
Defence barrister Mr Kamal Vaid BL put it to Mr Keane that he wanted to frame Martin Ward by waiting inside until the Garda car arrived. Mr Keane denied this. Garda David Clarke testified that when he saw Martin Ward and his wife Julie- Anne arrive at the garage he advised Mr Keane to get into the Garda car.
He said Ward shouted “Rats, Rats” at him and was “agitated.”
“I told him to leave the area, which he later did and I brought Edward Keane to his friends house,” he told the court.
“How would you describe his demeanour?” asked Inspector Paraic Burke.
“I felt he was agitated, he was walking quite quickly,” he said.
He said he cautioned Ward at Tubbercurry Garda Station to which he said: “I said nothing. F*** off ” and refused to sign Garda Clarke’s notebook.
The court heard Ward pleaded guilty to the Public Order charge at the garage but denied making any threats to Mr Keane on Humbert Street.
“I’m pleading guilty to shouting and roaring at the Garda at the filling station but I’m not pleading guilty to shouting out driving down the road,” Ward told Judge Kilrane from the witness box.
He denied his car windows were down and denied following Mr Keane back up to the garage.
He said he had to go into the filling station “for a minute to pick up a friend but he wasn’t there.”
Inside the garage, Ward said his wife told him that Edward Keane was “giving her dirty looks.”
“The wife lost the head and Edward Keane told the wife to shut her mouth. I’m very sorry to the Garda,” said Ward.
Later that afternoon, Ward’s wife made a statement at Tubbercurry Garda Station when Ward became verbally abusive to Sgt Padraig Cunnane using obscene language.
When Sgt Cunnane told Ward to go and sit in his car, he came up very close to his face and shouted ‘ No’.
“He was very close and was frothing at the mouth,” said Inspector Burke.
“He had to be handcuffed and brought to Ballymote Garda Station,” he added.
“I apologise, I’m doing anger management,” said Ward.
His barrister Mr Vaid handed a letter into court outlining Ward’s “psycho- social difficulties.”
“He is very apologetic. He knows the great work done by the Gardaí in our community,” said Mr Vaid, adding that Ward would give an undertaking that that kind of behaviour wouldn’t happen again towards the Gardaí.
“He has a young wife. They’re trying to sort out their lives and start a family,” said Mr Vaid.
“I’m in no trouble for the past year. I didn’t break my bail conditions,” added Ward.
Judge Kilrane convicted Ward on all matters. “It would help if this defendant told the truth,” he said.
The judge pointed out that Ward hadn’t apologised to Edward Keane either.
“I’ll apologise now,” said Ward. “Too late,” said Judge Kilrane. He said he was proposing sentencing Ward to three consecutive sentences of two months, totalling six months, for each charge.
He adjourned sentencing however until July 26th and remanded Ward on continuing bail til then.
“If there’s credible evidence of re- offending we’ll re- enter matters,” he said. He then spoke to Mr Keane. “If there’s the slightest threat by Martin Ward, you’re to report that to the Gardaí. It doesn’t have to be an assault,” he said.
Turning to Ward, Judge Kilrane said: “if you or any of your family interfere with the Keane family pending resolution here, you’re going to take the blame for it.”