Jail sentence for abusive behaviour in Portlaoise

A prison sentence was handed down to a man who verbally abused gardaí following a search in Portlaoise. 

PJ O’Shea (32) of 20 O’Moore Place, Portlaoise pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour and refusing to comply with the directions of a garda at the Ring Road, Portlaoise on March 30 last. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant, who appeared in court via video link, had been acting suspiciously at around 9pm on the date in question. Sgt Kirby said he was searched by gardaí who didn’t find anything but he then “started verbally abusing the guards”. 

“He reacts badly in situations involving gardai and just goes off the rails,” said Sgt Kirby.

He said the defendant had 128 previous convictions and had been sentenced to nine months in prison a week earlier for public order and theft offences. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client had been following a cycle of offending since his teenage years. He said the man goes into custody and gets the help he needs but when he gets out he “falls back into his old ways”. 

Mr Meagher said his client suffered with chronic ADHD and he said he might be seeking to appeal the sentence which had been handed down a week earlier. 

Sgt Kirby said the defendant had called the garda “certain names” following the search and he refused when directed to leave the area. “There were members of the public present,” said Sgt Kibry. 

The defendant said “there was nobody there”.

Judge Susan Fay imposed a one month prison sentence and said she hoped the defendant would avail of the services which are available in prison. “This time in custody is an opportunity to get support,” she said.