Thief called garda ‘f*****g p***k' while trying to intervene in arrest of another man
Ritvars Razma (28) of Edgeworthstown, Longford pleaded guilty to five separate incidents of theft, public order and knife possession
Ritvars Razma called a garda a "f****** p****" shortly after he attempted to intervene in the arrest of a man in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford.
A jobless man carried out a brace of shoplifting raids before later going on to call a garda a 'f****** p****' while trying to intervene in the arrest of another man in a midlands town, a court has heard.
Ritvars Razma (28) of Bracklin Park, Edgeworthstown, Longford pleaded guilty to five separate incidents of theft, public order and knife possession at various locations over an 11-month period, a sitting of Longford District Court was told.
Ritvars Razma (28) had 36 previous convictions to his name before going on his latest crime spree, a court has heard.
Three of those involved episodes of shoplifting, two of which happened within a 24 hour period of each other on June 8 and June 9 last year when Razma stole three bottles of whiskey from the town's SuperValu store at Townparks in Longford town.
The total haul of those thefts amounted to almost €75 with Razma also admitting a subsequent further theft from Tesco where the accused was caught red-handed by security personnel just outside the Longford Shopping Centre's store on April 3 this year moments after he placed another stolen bottle of whiskey inside his jacket.
Sgt Enda Daly provided details of two further public order offences Razma committed along a stretch of the Longford Road in Edgeworthstown on October 31, 2024 during which he verbally abused an officer shortly after he attempted to step in as gardaí attempted to execute the arrest of another man.
Judge Bernandette Owens was told as Razma was directed to leave the area, he branded a garda a 'f****** p****.
That prompted Razma to be asked for his name and address, something he refused to comply with and which ultimately led to his arrest.
Just seven months later, Razma again found himself in hot water, this time when gardaí spotted him acting suspiciously along Edgeworthstown's Pound Street area on May 1.
When Garda Padraig Shanley carried out a search of Razma under the Misuse of Drugs Act, the court was told a multi tool knife was retrieved together with drugs paraphernalia.
Ritvars Razma called a garda a "f****** p****" shortly after he attempted to intervene in the arrest of a man in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford.
Sgt Daly said Razma offered 'no reasonable explanation' as to why he had the knife in his possession in an incident that led to him being charged under section 9 (1) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.
The court was told Razma had previously racked up 36 convictions, among which included offences for public order, criminal damage and arson.
Sgt Daly, in outlining Razma's criminal past, also revealed how he had been subject to a peace bond and be of good behaviour for a period of ten years after a six year suspended sentence was handed down in June 2019 for the aforementioned arson charge at Tullamore Circuit Criminal Court.
Ritvars Razma called a garda a "f****** p****" shortly after he attempted to intervene in the arrest of a man in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford.
News in 90 Seconds - June 25th
In defence, solicitor Bríd Mimnagh insisted the so-called paraphernalia found on her client along with the knife charge 'had nothing to do with drugs' and was more innocently connected to Razma undertaking a spot of fishing.
She also implored the court to afford the unemployed Razma space and time to garner the requisite monies to cover the cost of the three shoplifting incidents.
More pointedly, Ms Mimnagh said Razma was now firmly intent on getting his back on an even keel while under the watchful guidance of his close family.
'He missed a lot of courts but in the last six weeks he has been under the influence of his parents,' she said, noting how Razma's father had contacted her directly to ensure of his attendance in court.
Judge Owens said while the court had been made aware of Razma's intention to plead guilty at a previous court sitting in May, in light of his 'significant previous convictions', the court was minded to direct a probation report.
In remanding Razma on continuing bail to a sitting of Longford District Court on November 11, Judge Owens said the five month hiatus would also provide the necessary time for him to summon together compensation for the shops he stole from.
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