DISTRICT COURT ROUND-UP
From our reporter at Sligo Courthouse
Scuffle outside Garda Station results in a fine
A Sligo man involved in a scuffle with a Garda officer outside Sligo Garda Station has been fined.
Ron Vos, 60, of Jinks Avenue,
Sligo, was sentenced on the charge of failure to comply with direction of Garda following a hearing at
Sligo District Court.
Garda Fitzgerald, the officer involved in the incident, told the Court that on September 29, 2021 at 2.20pm, he saw Vos outside Sligo Garda Station who demanded that he speak to him.
He said that after two minutes, Vos became very agitated and started shouting at him including that he (Garda Fitzgerald) “was not a Garda” and was also “corrupt”.
Garda Fitzgerald then told the Court that he told Vos that he would be issued with a fixed penalty notice only for Vos to shout, “you will not be able to arrest me” and began to push and punch him.
Following a scuffle, Garda Fitzgerald concluded his statement to the Court by saying that he arrested Vos.
Defending solicitor, Gerry McGovern asked Garda Fitzgerald if he actually issued the fixed charge notice after saying that he would. The Garda replied that he didn’t.
Mr McGovern then asked, “then what are we doing here?”.
He then repeatedly asked the Garda – to answer “yes or no” – if his colleague, Sgt Flynn, had spoken to him about Vos. The Garda continually stated that procedure had been followed without saying yes or no to Mr McGovern’s question.
Mr McGovern then put it to Garda Fitzgerald that “this man didn’t deserve what he got at the station. What did he do that was so wrong that you had to throw him to the ground and take him to Ballymote Garda Station? You had no reason to act in the way you did”.
Garda Fitzgerald replied: “He failed to comply with a Section Eight directive.”
Mr McGovern then said: “I put it to you that he never pushed you.”
CCTV footage of the incident taken from outside Sligo Garda Station was then shown to the Court.
Two figures in the distance at the top right hand corner of the screen are seen approaching each other and although they were not easily identifiable, both the Prosecution and the Defence confirmed that the two men were Garda Fitzgerald and Ron Vos.
However, no audio of the conversation was available although the footage showed the two men involved in a scuffle with Vos being handcuffed when restrained by Garda Fitzgerald.
Mr McGovern then asked Garda Fitzgerald if he had any further dealings with Vos.
He replied: “No. He’s put in several complaints about me. I’ve not investigated anything in relation to him since that date. But he has spoken to me about other things.”
Mr McGovern said: “So you have spoken to him. Have any officers instructed you to stay away from him?
Garda Fitzgerald then addressed the Judge saying: “Judge – I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
Mr McGovern concluded by saying: