A PEDESTRIAN reacted badly after Gardaí stopped him on a drug quest, called officers “rat bastards” and threatened to destroy their patrol car, a court has heard.
ohn Joyce (36) was annoyed that he would be searched for drugs because he does not have a drug problem.
Judge Patricia Cronin sentenced her to six months in prison, of which she suspended 12 months.
The defendant, from St Bridget’s Halting Site, Porterstown, Dublin 15, admitted threatening and abusive behavior on 14 May last year and threatened to cause criminal damage at Holywell Heath in Swords.
Garda Craig Smyth told Swords District Court he was on mobile patrol when he saw two men running away from the patrol car.
Gda Smyth stopped Joyce, believing this behavior to be suspicious, and told him he would be searched under the drug law.
Joyce got verbally abusive, calling gardaí “rat bastards” and telling them “f**k off, yous are c**ts”.
Gda Smyth said Joyce also threatened to get on the hood of the patrol car and smash the windshield.
Gda Smyth asked Joyce if he intended to cause damage to the patrol car, but the defendant declined to answer the question. Joyce later apologized to gardaí for his behavior, Gda Smyth said.
Attorney Fiona D’Arcy said Joyce got into a lot of trouble when he was younger, but hadn’t come to Gardaí’s attention lately.
In reference to this incident, Ms D’Arcy said that Joyce felt that Gardaí was improperly frisking him, as he has no drug problem, and that he reacted very badly. All he did was go to the stores to buy a soda, she said.
Joyce was in a deep depression at the time because he had recently buried his mother, sister and two aunts.
Ms D’Arcy said Joyce was a great support to his wife, who was having health problems, and asked the judge to be lenient.
