Drunk man spat at paramedic, assaulted garda

DEFENDANT MUST AVOID ALCOHOL

“THERE is a common thread here - alcohol.”

Judge Kevin Kilrane’s words to Aidan Maye who pleaded guilty to a number of charges, including assaulting a paramedic and a male garda in February.

He was also charged with drink driving at Murphy’s Lane, Tubbercurry on January 19th last.

The court heard that Maye ( 21) of Moylough, Tubbercurry, spat in the face of a paramedic and tried to bite a garda.

Garda John O’Connor told the court that on February 8th 2014, Swinford gardai along with an ambulance went to the scene of a road traffic accident at Lavy More, Charlestown. They found Aidan Maye in the car. He was very aggressive and highly intoxicated.

“His speech was slurred. He was very aggressive and spat in the face of the paramedic.”

Gardai arrested him and while he was in the patrol car on the way to Swinford garda station, he began to bite at Garda O’Connor.

He was later charged with two counts of assault and a number of public order offences.

Defending solicitor Eamonn Gallagher said that Maye was totally out of it.

He had remorse for his conduct and became depressed after the incident.

Maye was attending alcohol addiction counselling.

He had been a full- time forklift driver until May, when he was laid off.

He had called in person to the garda station and apologised profusely to Garda O’ Connor. He also wrote a letter of apology. Mr Gallagher said that Maye was a decent man when he wasn’t drinking.

“He ascertained the outrageous nature of his actions,” he added.

Judge Kilrane said: “What is decent about spitting in the face of people trying to help them, assaulting them? “He knows what to do – don’t drink. “I don’t know what he is like when sober, but from the evidence he is vicious and violent when drunk.”

Judge Kilrane sentenced Maye to five months suspended for two years for the drink driving charge.

He disqualified him from driving for three years. He sentenced him to five months suspended for two years on the assault charges.

Judge Kilrane told Maye: “You know what you have to do – stay off drink.”