Man jailed for attack on garda with glass bottle

A MAN who assaulted a garda with a glass bottle and caused permanent damage to his leg has been jailed for two and a half years.

Christopher Reilly, 28, repeatedly denied stabbing Garda Daniel Sweeney with the bottle and claimed that the officer had rolled onto the smashed glass during a scuffle on the ground.

Garda Sweeney, in a victim-impact report read out in court, revealed that he lost a lot of blood in the attack, had to have 13 stitches, and has permanently lost feeling from his calf to his ankle.

The garda revealed that Reilly had never apologised and called him a ‘cry baby’ during one earlier appearance in court. Garda Sweeney said because of this ‘lack of empathy’ he could never forgive his assailant.

Sergeant Edward Howley, who witnessed the attack, said Reilly became very aggressive while shouting obscenities at Garda Sweeney.

Reilly, of Dunard Avenue, Cabra, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Garda Sweeney causing him harm at Ratoath Road, Cabra, on November 10, 2015. He has 67 previous convictions, including theft, burglary, robbery, and for drugs offences.

Counsel for Reilly said that his client had been making ‘strident efforts’ to address his difficulties.

Yesterday Judge Melanie Greally noted that this assault was in the ‘upper range of seriousness’ in its category. She ordered Reilly to address his drug abuse, and to complete any programme and attend any training and education opportunities as directed by the Probation Service. She imposed a three and a half year sentence with the final 12 months suspended.