Traveller alleges racist remarks during Portlaoise arrest 

A man continued making allegations of racial abuse despite a judge warning him he was digging a hole for himself. 

Thomas McCarthy, 39, with an address at 1 Ashbury View, Roscrea, Tipperary admitted to public order charges at the Maldron Hotel on the Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise on January 18 last. He also admitted having a screwdriver at Portlaoise Garda Station on the same date. 

Garda Micheal Kilheeney said he noticed the accused outside the Maldron Hotel speaking to a member of staff on the date in question at 9.46pm. He said the man was telling the staff member that he was going to box him. 

He arrested the defendant who he said had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and was unsteady on his feet. He was arrested and taken to Portlaoise Garda Station where Garda Kilheeney said he began a search.

“He informed me that nobody would search him, that he would search himself,” he said. 

“A sharply pointed screwdriver was found in his right pocket,” said Garda Kilheeney. 

“Why wouldn’t I have one,” Garda Kilheeney said the defendant told gardai on the night. 

Garda Kilheeney said the man remained aggressive towards gardai at the station. He made no reply to the charges. The court heard he has 28 previous convictions.

“This man disrespected my name. I am a Traveller, yeh,” the defendant said in court. 

“I don’t deserve to be called a pikey. It’s like calling a black man names,” he told Judge Andrew Cody. 

“We are all human beings,” the defendant continued. 

Garda Kilheeney denied he had made any racial comments during the interaction. 

“They are false allegations,” he told the Judge. 

The accused again said he was called a pikey in the Garda station. 

“You’re a pikey,” he said to the garda. 

“You Travellers or knackers or tinkers, you are always in trouble and this and that,” the defendant continued. 

Garda Kilheeney said he had a previous interaction with the defendant outside Supermacs two days before the incident. He said he had asked the defendant to leave the area and the man had done so and the two parted on good terms.

“You should be ashamed of yourself. I would like the job you are in,” the man said to Garda Kilheeney. 

“I apologise to the court for my actions,” the defendant said.

Solicitor Michael Byrne asked for a description of the screwdriver. He was told it was a small screwdriver. He explained that his client had been fixing some  furniture in his sister’s house and that’s why he had the tool. 

Mr Byrne said his client had received bad news on the day that a cousin had taken his own life. 

“He does instruct me that the interaction between himself and the gardai wasn’t as it should have been,” said Mr Byrne. 

Judge Andrew Cody told the man he had dug a grave for himself through his actions in the courtroom. 

“I would suggest you stop talking now,” he told the man.   

“I apologise to the staff on the night your honour, but I am not apologising to that garda,” the defendant said.

Judge Cody said “given his appalling attitude” he was imposing a €200 fine for being drunk, a three month sentence for being abusive and a further three months for having a screwdriver. 

“He remains as aggressive today as he was on the night…There isn’t an ounce of remorse,” Judge Cody added. 

“You have got to know where I am coming from as well,” the defendant said to Judge Cody.