A man who got off a bus and involved himself in an attack on gardaí outside a funeral has been jailed.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that two gardaí were surrounded, threatened and had objects thrown at them by a large group of people on the Kylemore Road on February 20th, 2023, after a funeral had taken place.
Lee McDonnell (32) got off a bus and became involved, lunging towards the two gardaí and attempting to punch them. His then-partner dragged him away from the area.
After hearing the facts on Thursday, Judge Pauline Codd remarked this incident occurred in the context of a funeral, adding: “There was a time in this country when people respected the dead and respected themselves.”
McDonnell of Kilmartin Green, Fettercairn, Tallaght Dublin 24, pleaded guilty to a charge of affray.
The judge noted that McDonnell was not present when the trouble started but had got himself involved, becoming “part and parcel of attacking the gardaí and putting them under pressure”.
He “could have got off the bus and minded his own business”, she said, handing him a two-and-a-half-year sentence.
Detective Garda Caroline Staunton said gardaí had received information that a large number of unregistered scramblers and motorbikes would be in the area and there could be trouble.
Two gardaí were stationed in an unmarked car on Kylemore Road, but left the vehicle after they saw a moped almost crashing into a woman pushing a buggy.
The gardaí attempted to seize the moped, but were approached and encircled by a large group, some of whom had left the nearby church following the funeral mass.
This group started to threaten and throw objects at the two officers.
The court heard an unknown man struck one Garda on the side of the head with a glass bottle during the incident. The moped's driver then returned, took it and drove away.
Det Gda Staunton told Brian Storan BL, prosecuting, that the two gardaí retreated as the situation was too dangerous and called for back-up.
Footage of 'thuggery'
Footage of the incident was played to the court, prompting Judge Codd to remark: “the ubiquitous mobile phones were out recording thuggery.”
McDonnell was interviewed twice following his arrest, but made no comment. He has 133 previous convictions, including for robbery, aggravated burglary and road traffic offences. He was on bail at the time of this incident and has been in custody since March 2023.
No victim impact statements were provided to the court.
Det Gda Staunton agreed with Nicola Cox BL, defending, that her client's guilty plea was of assistance to the prosecution and there is no evidence he was there to attend the funeral.
CCTV
It was accepted that attempts to retrieve CCTV from the bus McDonnell travelled on were unsuccessful.
Ms Cox said her client apologises for his behaviour on the day and has “no explanation why he got off the bus and involved himself”.
She said the gardaí found themselves in a “frightening and difficult situation” during this incident. Defence counsel outlined her client's personal circumstances and asked the court for as much leniency as possible.
Judge Codd said the two gardaí in full uniform found themselves in a “very frightening and challenging situation” while they were “trying to protect the public” in the area.
She said McDonnell is “at an age now where he needs to take responsibility for himself and deal with his issues” and directed that he be given credit for any time served in custody on this matter alone.
