A Judge has ordered a man charged with assaulting two gardai during an after-hours raid on a Castlefin pub appear before him for sentencing.
Darren McGahern had to be pepper sprayed following the drink-fuelled incident at the Banjo Tavern.
Judge Ciaran Liddy has instructed that McGahern come to Letterkenny District Court on Wednesday next.
The 46-year-old, with an address at Halewood, Strabane, is charged with assaulting Garda Sinead McLaughlin and Sergeant Joe Dorrian when they arrived at the Banjo Tavern in the early hours of November 21, 2021.
Sergeant Michael McHugh of Lifford Garda Station gave evidence of the incident in court.
Garda McLaughlin and Sergeant Dorrian arrived at the licensed premises at 12.40am. The court heard that McGahern, who was a customer in the bar, ‘took exception’ when the officers began taking details of those on the premises.
McGahern, from Strabane, was initially aggressive towards Garda McLaughlin, putting his arms around her neck.
The now-retired Sergeant Dorrian intervened to assist Garda McLaughlin. As McGahern resisted arrest, he struck Sergeant Dorrian between the legs with his fist. McGahern was said to have attempted to strike Sergeant Dorrian a second time.
Sergeant McHugh said gardai had to subdue McGahern with pepper spray before bringing him under control.
“Members struggled with him on the ground to place him under arrest,” Sergeant Michael McHugh said.
When questioned about the incident again in March 2022, McGahern was described as being ‘apologetic’ and ‘embarrassed by his actions’. McGahern, who has no previous convictions, tendered an apology to the gardai.
Defending solicitor, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said his client was unable to come to court, but had tendered a ‘full and heartfelt apology’.
“He does appreciate that it’s very serious,” Mr Gallagher said. “It shouldn’t have happened, but it did happen. Alcohol was taken on the night. He subsequently came across to meet gardai and do all the relevant processes and he was very forthright and contrite.”
Judge Liddy said: “He will need to come to court.”
McGahern will be sentenced on Wednesday, February 7.
Man who assaulted two Gardai in after-hours pub attack to be sentenced was last modified: February 2nd, 2024 by
