Drug addict to be sentenced later for assault on gardaí
A 27-year-old drug addict who was “highly strung out” on a concoction of drugs is to be sentenced in July for assault on two gardaí and theft of drugs from a pharmacy.
Alan Hutch of Sherrard Street Lower pleaded guilty to stealing an amount of drugs from Allen’s Pharmacy at Summerhill Parade on March 6, 2009.
He also pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Gary Moran and Garda Neil Japieda at Mountjoy Garda Station on the same date.
Garda Tara Dolan told Ms Roisin Lacey BL, prosecuting that Hutch, who has 47 previous convictions, went into Allen’s Pharmacy at 11.45am with a hood over his head and part of a jumper sleeve wrapped around his face.
He went into the dispensary area of the pharmacy brandishing a small butcher’s knife where Ms Marian Allen, a part-owner, was working.
He shouted at Ms Allen not to move and swiped an amount of drugs including dalmine tablets and made his way out of the pharmacy.
Ms Allen said she was acquainted with Hutch as a previous customer who used the false name “Michael Kelly.”
Gardai located the accused man walking along North Circular Road and when he was brought to Mountjoy Garda Station gardaí searched him.
Refusing to comply with gardaí, Hutch clenched his fists and told them he was a trained boxer and he said he would “kill them.”
“He was in an aggressive state and then he calmed down,” said Gda Dolman.
As gardaí removed his runners and trousers, Hutch clenched his fists and threw a number of punches at Garda Moran hitting him on the head.
During the melee, Hutch had fallen and hit his head off the cell bed while Gda Moran fell and hit his head off the wall.
Hutch then jumped up from the floor and started punching and “lashing out” at both Gda Moran and Gda Japieda, challenging them to a fight.
Mr Luigi Rea, defending, said Hutch had been feeling unwell earlier in the day and “was looking for drugs to feed his habit.”
“He didn’t want to hurt anyone but just frighten them. He was highly strung out and afterwards swallowed two boxes of the tablets in a lane way and a further two at a canal,” said Mr Rea.
Judge Martin Nolan, remanded Hutch on bail and adjourned sentencing until July so he can review the case.
