Man brought to garda station over taxi fare

A young man who disputed the fare of his taxi home was subsequently brought to the garda station at 3:30am by the driver and ended up being arrested. Jordan Clerkin, 21, of Knocknaganny Park, Sligo, was charged with being drunk in a public place and also threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and engaging in offensive conduct on April 11 th 2016. He was also before the court for not having tax, not displaying L plates or not having an exhaust fitted with a silencer on Teeling St on May 6 th 2016.

Mr Clerkin, who represented himself, said he was on a night out on April 11 th 2016 and disagreed with the price of the taxi fare. The taxi driver then brought him to the garda station. Garda Kenneth Gallagher who was on duty, told the court he heard loud shouting and saw the defendant roaring and shouting. He said he was very intoxicated and he tried to calm him down. He refused to remain in the station and went out the door, with Garda Gallagher following him in the direction of Pearse Road.

He was aggressive and subsequently arrested, the garda said. It took a number of gardaí to assist as he was very uncooperative, had to be physically restrained and was eventually brought to a cell.

Mr Clerkin said once he saw Garda Gallagher that night, who had previously stopped him for his bike being too loud, he knew things were ‘going downhill’. He claimed that he didn’t leave the station. Inspector Ray Mulderrig told him he had a significant amount of alcohol consumed and behaved in an appalling manner towards the taxi driver and gardaí. He said Mr Clerkin was in a belligerent state of mind even before he encountered gardaí.

On the second date in question, May 6 th 2016, Garda Gallagher said he was parked in the patrol van outside the station. He heard a loud engine and saw the motorbike coming over the brow of the hill. He knew the bike because there had been complaints from residents on the Circular Road an Caltragh areas about excess noise from its exhaust, he said.

The garda said he had given the driver a few chances to fit a silencer but didn’t. The bike had no L plates and the registration plate was too small too he said. Mr Clerkin had pulled in at Teeling Street, took off his helmet and was crossing the road.

He called to him but he continued into a restaurant. The garda said when Mr Clerkin came back he told him there was a tow truck coming as his bike’s tax disc was out of date and the vehicle was being seized. Mr Clerkin produced a tax disc from his pocket which was in date but the garda told him the tow truck was still going to seize the bike.

Mr Clerkin said he didn’t have the disc displayed as his tax holder had snapped and he had ordered one. He said he didn’t hear Garda Gallagher call to him and when he came back from getting food he saw the gardaí at his bike. He said he knew he was going to get a ‘ hard time’ as the garda had a pick on him.

He said even though he did have tax his bike was still seized and he had to pay €125 to get it back.

Judge Kevin Kilrane described it as an unhealthy relationship between Garda Gallagher and the defendant, saying it was not one sided.

He said the events on May 6 th 2016 were excessive and unnecessary and he dismissed everything. On the previous matter he said he was hearing the prosecution’s version and also the defendant’s.

He said he was not satisfied that although Mr Clerkin was animated and shouting and roaring that this constituted a Section 6 offence, adding that there wasn’t enough evidence of threatening, insulting or abusive behaviour. The judge said he didn’t know if he was abusing anyone, adding he was in an animated state however and fined him €200 for public order, striking out the remainder.