Man punched Garda when pulled for not having licence plate

A 50-year-old truck driver “left his manners at home” by assaulting two Gardaí after they pulled him for not having a licence plate on his lorry.

Dermot Greene, of Cootehall, Boyle, was driving a lorry on the Finisklin Road at 5.40pm on 26 th April when a passing patrol car noticed he had no licence plate.

Sergeant Derek Butler told the court that Gardaí approached Greene about his licence plate and he made no reply.

When they repeated themselves, he pushed past them and said he was going to get it.

Gardaí then requested to see his tachograph device at which point Greene complained he was being harassed and became highly agitated, telling them he didn’t “give a ****.”

The court heard the defendant then started to push back with his upper body, saying to the Gardaí “who do you think you are?” and “I’d like to see you try” when he was warned he was facing arrest.

“A struggle ensued” when Garda Fitzgerald arrested Greene and Garda Fallon received a punch to the side of his head.

Defence solicitor Mr John Anderson told Judge Kilrane it was an “unfortunate” incident and apologised on Greene’s behalf to the two Gardaí.

He said he had been self-employed as a lorry driver his entire life and “just seemed to have lost his temper”. Greene has no previous convictions for this type of behaviour, he added.

He said Greene’s house was after burning down and he was under “extreme pressure”.

Judge Kilrane said it appeared his actions were “out of character and he had a bad day.” “This row erupted out of nothing,” he said. He applied the Probation Act and dismissed the charge on condition Greene donate ¤400 to the Garda Benevolent Fund. Greene also offered ¤100 to the local St Vincent de Paul.