MAN (25) IN CUSTODY FOR ALLEGEDLY MAKING THREATS TO GARDAÍ
MAN (24) ARRESTED AT BOYLE COVID-19 CHECKPOINT
A 25 year old man has been remanded in custody after appearing at a special sitting of Carrick- On-Shannon District Court on Thursday night where he faced a number of charges arising out of his arrest at a Covid 19 checkpoint in Boyle that morning.
Sligo native, Joseph Clancy of Carrowcrory, Ballinafad is alleged to have got out of his girlfriend’s car, began recording the Gardaí on his phone and made threats against them.
He had been advised to turn around and go home at the checkpoint as he was travelling in excess of 2k from his home. He claimed he and his girlfriend were going shopping in Boyle.
Sligo native Clancy initially refused to give his details and became extremely angry and aggressive telling the Gardaí he would get them when they were off duty.
Sergeant Dermot Siggins of Castlerea Garda Station gave evidence of arresting the defendant at 9.55am at Mockmoyne, Boyle and conveying him to Castlerea Garda Station where he was charged with a number of offences.
Clancy was charged with damaging the rear of the front driver’s seat, the rear passenger window and driver’s window by spitting at same on numerous occasions and with also damaging the rear clip on a heater cover in the unmarked patrol car.
The defendant was also charged with damaging the cell walls, mattress, blanket and door of a cell at Castlerea Garda Station and with engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at Mockmoyne, Boyle.
He was further charged with assaulting Sergeant Laura Martyn at Aghmagrange, Boyle by spitting at her in the direction of the driver’s window.
Clancy was also charged with assaulting Sgt Siggins by attempting to headbutt him on two occasions and spitting in his direction.
In reply to that charge the defendant replied that he should have headbutted him and that he was lucky he had that uniform on him.
Inspector Tom Colsh told the court he was objecting to bail saying it had been an extremely serious incident.
Sgt Martyn and Sgt Siggins were performing a Covid-19 checkpoint when they stopped a black BMW at Mockmoyne. The two occupants were informed of the purpose of the checkpoint but they refused to give their details and became abusive and aggressive.
They eventually gave their names and gave Ballymote as an address.
The Gardaí informed them that they must return to their own town as they had no legitimate or genuine reason to go to Boyle.
Clancy and his girlfriend, Rosalinn Abramian got out of their car and the defendant began to record the Gardaí on his phone, getting very close to them as he did so despite being told to distance himself.
He became very aggressive and uncontrollably angry, said the Inspector. Assistance was called for and the duo were directed to leave the area but they failed to do so.
Clancy threatened to assault the Gardaí saying he would get them when they were off duty.
The court heard the defendant began to video the Inspector’s own private car which he had arrived at the scene in.
Clancy threatened to put this footage on Facebook and opened the door of the Inspector’s car before attempting to get into it.
The defendant was then arrested and he continued to threaten that he would get the Gardaí when they were off duty.
Whilst in the back of the patrol car he began spitting and attempted to headbutt Sgt Siggins on two occasions.
Clancy told the Sergeant that he would get him and his family when he was off duty and he told Sgt Martyn he would rape her and also get her family, said the Inspector.
A this point, the defendant interrupted, shouting, “come on, this is a disgrace.”
The Inspector continued that at Castlerea Garda Station the defendant was placed in a cell where he proceeded to defecate and smear faeces over the cell door, walls and himself.
Addressing the court, Clancy said he and his girlfriend had driven to Boyle to do some shopping.
He said that from the minute he was stopped at the checkpoint he began recording on his phone.
He said that the Inspector pulled up in an identical black BMW to his girlfriend’s car and he went to get into it.
“I mixed it up with mine,” he said.
With regard to his reply to charge of allegedly headbutting Sgt Siggins, Clancy said that all he had said was that if he was getting done for it then he should have headbutted him.
He denied the allegation that he said he would rape Sgt Martyn.
Sgt Martyn was called to address the issue of remarks the defendant allegedly made against her and as she took the witness stand the defendant stated: “It’s all on video, every bit is on video.”
The sergeant said that while on the way to Castlerea Garda Station the defendant said he would cut her throat and kick her head in. He was very aggressive and abusive, called her a number of names and said he would rape her.
The defendant kept saying he was too warm and air conditioning was put on for him and the window was opened.
“He spat towards his own window and the driver’s window. He spat sporadically during the journey,” said the Sergeant.
Judge Kilrane asked the garda if she felt the defendant had taken any intoxicant.
Sgt Martyn replied that she did not smell alcohol and that she was not sure if he was under the influence of any other intoxicant.
She said that when Inspector Colsh pulled up in his own car the defendant said he was recording on Facebook Live and stood in front of the car to record the registration and then moved to the back to do the same. He also opened the door of the car and continued recording.
Sgt Martyn said the defendant was extremely aggressive and she had never come across such behaviour before in her career. She had never encountered the defendant before.
The Judge asked the witness how the defendant appeared now in comparison to earlier, the Sergeant replied that he was the very same now but a lot more aggressive.
Addressing the court, the defendant said he never threatened to rape any guard.
“I swear on my children’s’ lives I didn’t,” he said.
He said that while in the patrol car he asked five times for the window to be opened. He admitted that he spat out the window when it was subsequently opened.
The defendant claimed that the Inspector told him at the checkpoint that he was going to teach him a lesson.
While in the cell he said he had pushed the button 15 times but was left alone for four hours. He had asked for toilet paper but the Gardaí wouldn’t give him any and he had to use his socks to wipe himself.
He said the closest shop to him was in Gurteen but it only sold bread and milk and he didn’t think there was a problem going to Boyle.
He undertook not to leave his house if granted bail. He claimed he was arrested for videoing the Inspector’s car.
“That’s when I was arrested and the closer I got to Castlerea the more charges I got,” he said.
Mr Peter Collins, solicitor (defending) suggested to the defendant that videoing makes a situation tense at the minimum.
Clancy said that since the age of 16 he had been dealing with corrupt Gardaí from Sligo to Longford.
The defendant told the Inspector he lived in Ballinafad and that his mother resided in Ballymote.
The defendant told the Inspector he was arrested because he had videoed him and “you didn’t like it.”
Judge Kilrane said the episode outlined to him by the Gardaí was outrageous.
The threats were of the most serious kind and from observing Clancy he believed the defendant was full of anger and hatred for the Gardaí.
“I don’t know where that comes from and while it is not an offence in itself to be angry, the anger this morning knew no bounds and he was overcome by it,” said the Judge.
Refusing bail, the Judge remanded Clancy in custody to appear at Sligo District Court this Thursday by video link from Castlerea Prison.
He told the defendant that nothing had been tried yet and that he would receive a fair trial.
As he was led away in handcuffs the defendant said: “Judge, when you see the videos you’ ll know, trust me, if he hasn’t deleted them already.”