Dad with 42 convictions was abusive to Garda

A 37-year-old man who was highly intoxicated and failed to comply with a garda in the early hours of the morning, Sligo District Court heard.

The defendant, Martin Ward, with an address at The Parklands, Tubbercurry, was before Judge Kevin Kilrane charged with public order, intoxication and failing to comply with gardaí on Markievicz Road, Sligo on December 20 th 2017.

Inspector Donal Sweeney told the court that at 3:30am on the date in question, Garda Dolan observed a number of males outside Robertos take-away on High St and they then left the area.

A short while later, around 4am, there were four people on Markievicz Road shouting and acting in an aggressive manner. One of the men identified as Martin Ward was extremely abusive to Garda Dolan and said threatening things towards him including that he was going to rape his partner.

He kept making derogatory remarks towards him and continued to strike Garda Dolan.

The defendant repeatedly failed to comply and was intoxicated and unsteady on his feet.

He was subsequently arrested at 4:30am and brought to Ballymote Garda Station, Inspector Sweeney said.

He told the judge that Ward had 42 previous convictions, dating back 5 years or more.

Mr Tom MacSharry, solicitor (defending) said that Ward had not been in trouble for some time and that his client had written a letter to garda Dolan and also met with him and apologised.

Mr MacSharry described what happened as being very nasty and said Ward was a man who has had difficulties with alcohol and the incident happened around Christmas time when he was highly intoxicated.

Ward said in court that he told Garda Dolan he was very sorry for what had happened.

He told the judge that he had since given up drink and agreed with Mr MacSharry that he had been clean and sober for a number of years but had relapsed over the Christmas period.

He acknowledged that he has a problem and said that he hasn’t drank in a couple of months.

The father of four children has a keen interest in sport, the court heard.

Ward told Judge Kilrane: “I know it is very serious and it was terrible what I said. “I don’t want to go to jail,” he added. Mr MacSharry said it was a very serious offence and said in fairness to Garda Dolan he accepted Ward’s apology and asked the court to consider community service in lieu of a custodial sentence.

Judge Kilrane asked Ward if he ever worked and he said mostly abroad and he did a bit of building work in Ireland. The judge said he should be put in prison for three months and the only matter that persuaded him not to put him in prison was to adjourn the matter for one week with the defendant to come to court with €700 of a fine.