A youth has been found guilty of taking part in violence outside a Garda station during which two detectives were surrounded, beaten and pushed in front of an on-coming car.
The detectives responded to a 999 call in Balbriggan, Co Dublin but were attacked and an attempt was made to grab one of their official firearms, a trial has heard.
The youth, aged 17, at the time of the incident pleaded not guilty of taking part in violent disorder by using or threatening to use violence on the night of June 13th last year. However, following a hearing before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin Children's Court, he was found guilty.
Sentencing was adjourned until December for a probation report to be prepared.
Kicked and punched
The incident happened outside Balbriggan Garda station. The trial heard the youth encouraged the crowd to attack the detectives after he was arrested.
The court heard a passing motorist contacted gardai after noticing a group of youths outside the station surrounding another person who was “balled up” on the ground. He was kicked and punched, she said.
Detective Garda Gerard Moroney told the trial that at about 11.55pm he and colleague Detective Garda Colm Fitzpatrick were on patrol. They observed 15 males and another male on the ground.
One youth told the garda detectives to “stop harassing us”, he said.
The witnesses said his colleague approached the teenager and asked for his details. He said the youth replied “you are not getting my fucking name”.
Detective Garda Moroney told the court he told the teenager, “We can do it here or in the station” but the teen refused to give his name.
He was arrested and allegedly told the other youths, “get them off me, attack them, film it, all of this kind of stuff,” Detective Garda Moroney told the court.
The detectives were punched and kicked.
“Someone shouted ‘push them out on the road, there is a car coming’,” Detective Garda Moroney said.
'Armed gardai, get back'
He described the incident as scary and told the court some of the group pushed them out on the road but the on-coming car, a taxi, stopped.
Detective Garda Moroney told the court he and his colleague, had been pushed onto the road. The teen was handcuffed then and “the punches and kicks were still coming”.
The defendant did not strike them just told the others to attack them, he said.
Detective Garda Fitzpatrick told the court he felt someone, who is facing separate proceedings, touching the holster of his gun. He shouted “armed gardai, get back”, at which they scattered and the station was called for assistance, the court heard.
He said about eight of the group had attacked him and his colleague. It ended when other gardai came out the station.
Another youth who laughed as he filmed the incident was stopped on the night but he was not charged. His video footage was not obtained. The defendant had also been questioned earlier that night by other gardai and had given his details them, the court was told.
The judge ruled that two other youths charged over the incident had no case to answer and their charges were dismissed.
