Portlaoise man kicked out at garda and hit him in chest

A Portlaoise man has been given community service in lieu of prison after he kicked out and struck a garda during a public order disturbance.

John O’Shea, 27, of 20 O’Moore Place, Portlaoise, was charged with threatening or abusive behaviour, and possession of cannabis, on February 28 this year; and theft from Campus Oil, Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise, on October 9 last year. Sgt JJ Kirby gave evidence that on February 28, at Lakeglen, Portlaoise, the accused was shouting and abusive towards the gardaí.

The accused shouted, “I’ll get you, I’ll meet you in a dark alley, you f**king rat.”

The accused tried to headbutt a garda and during arrest he kicked out, hitting a garda in the chest.

At the garda station, he was found to have cannabis on him.

The accused was further charged with theft of washing powder, from the Campus Oil Filling Station.

The accused had 33 previous convictions.

Defence, Mr Philip Meagher said his client had €40 compensation for the theft.

Defence said the other charge had been sparked by a domestic incident between the accused and his partner after their relationship broke down. The remarks about a “rat” were made towards a neighbour, whom the accused believed had rung the gardaí.

On the theft charge, Judge Catherine Staines applied the probation act section 1.2. On the public order charge, she imposed 150 hours’ community service in lieu of three months in prison.