A man in custody at Bantry Garda Station threatened to ‘bomb every one of you pig bastards.'
A MAN in custody at Bantry Garda Station threatened to ‘bomb every one of you pig bastards.’
The same man, Jim Burke of 11, Drumleigh, Bantry, told Judge Mary Dorgan that his behaviour at Wolfe Tone Square on March 9th 2017, and whilst he was in garda custody, was ‘off’ because he had been drinking.
His solicitor, Ray Hennessy, said the 23-year old is addressing his problem by attending an addiction counsellor, which prompted Judge Dorgan to adjourn the case for the production of a probation officer’s report.
Supt Declan O’Sullivan outlined the facts of the case, which involved the accused obstructing Gda Iris McSweeney at Wolfe Tone Square in the town on March 9th 2017.
In her evidence, Gda McSweeney said the accused had concealed a small bag of cannabis behind his back – a bag that contained about €10 of the drug.
Jim Burke was charged with obstruction; with resisting Gda McSweeney; with assaulting Gda Concannon by pushing him in the chest; and also with possession of cannabis.
Gda McSweeney said Jim Burke was agitated from the moment they approached him, asking: ‘What the fuck do you want?’
When she told him that she suspected he had cannabis in his possession and that she wanted to search him, the accused replied: ‘You will not search me, you fucking scumbags.’ Jim Burke, who had been rolling a cigarette when they approached him, pushed Gda Concannon in the chest, forcing him backwards.
Gda McSweeney said Jim Burke put a bag containing the cannabis behind his back but dropped it.
And when, shortly after, he was being cautioned he said: ‘I am going to kill you when I see you.’
The female garda said she called for assistance and Gda Roche came to their aid, but it was at Bantry Garda Station that he made the threat to ‘bomb every one of you pig bastards.’
The accused, who has 13 previous convictions, was also charged with engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at Wolfe Tone Square in Bantry on December 8th 2017.
Supt O’Sullivan said Gda Laura O’Sullivan was called to an incident in which the accused was being abusive towards his girlfriend.
Judge Dorgan asked Jim Burke if he had apologised to the gardaí.
He said he had apologised to one of the guards and readily apologised to the second in open court.
They thanked him for doing that and reminded him that the guards are ‘only doing their duty,’ but the accused said his judgement had been clouded by the fact that he had been drinking.
Judge Dorgan adjourned the case to the May 10th sitting of Bantry District Court for a probation officer’s report before ‘finalising matters.’
