Garda's finger cut as man ‘lost the head' while being handcuffed, court hears
Judge John Brennan struck the case out, sparing him a criminal record after he made a €140 charity donation.
A garda suffered a cut finger as he tried to handcuff a struggling man who had 'lost the head' when stopped for a search in Dublin city centre.
Council worker Robert William Carey (20) thought he was being 'picked on' when he overreacted, displaying aggressive and 'reprehensible behaviour', a court heard.
Judge John Brennan struck the case out, sparing him a criminal record after he made a €140 charity donation.
Mr Carey, of Castlegrange Avenue, Castaheany, Dublin 15 pleaded guilty to garda obstruction.
Dublin District Court heard gardaí thought Mr Carey was behaving suspiciously when they encountered him in Temple Bar on May 17 this year.
Robert William Carey (20)
News in 90 Seconds - June 28th
When they asked to search him, he became aggressive and refused to give his name and address. He resisted arrest while handcuffs were being placed on him, resulting in a cut to the garda's finger. The officer did not require medical treatment.
The accused was going through Temple Bar to buy food when gardaí decided to search him, his solicitor Evan Moore said.
Nothing was found on Mr Carey but he was intoxicated and 'overreacted' to the search.
Judge Brennan said while Mr Carey had thought he was being 'picked on' by the gardaí, this was not the way to react and it was 'kind of reprehensible behaviour'.
Mr Carey displayed a 'level of aggression' and the garda suffered a minor injury.
'He's a young man who reacted badly and lost the head somewhat,' the judge said. 'He's learned his lesson.'
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