Aggressive soldier restrained by six gardai
By Martina Nee
A soldier who violently kicked a taxi before becoming so aggressive that it took six gardai to restrain him has been ordered to pay €300 to the court poor box.
Eric Spellman (23) with an address at 17 Church Walk, Riverside Abbey, Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty at Galway District Court last week to being in an intoxicated state, and threatening and abusive behaviour at Galway Garda Station on February 24, 2013.
The court heard that gardai had received a call from a taxi driver who complained that a male was in the middle of the road kicking his car. When gardai arrived at the scene they observed the defendant standing on the side of the road and the taxi pulled over.
The driver did not make an official complaint against Spellman, however, on the way to Galway Garda Station the defendant became more and more irate and aggressive. The court heard that the defendant had to be restrained a number of times and that it took up to six garda officers to bring him inside the station. The court also heard that in reply to charge and caution, Spellman had told gardai to “f**k off” and “go f**k yourself pig”.
Standing before Judge Aeneas McCarthy Spellman, a member of the Irish Defence Force, said that he was sorry for his behaviour and wanted to apologise to all the members of gardai that were involved in the incident that night. A defence force officer was also present and informed Judge McCarthy that a conviction could lead to Spellman not being allowed to sign back on in August, that it would affect his conduct rating automatically and result in 18 days pay being taken.
“His attitude to the gardai was atrocious, but he did apologise,” said Judge McCarthy who noted that Spellman has no previous convictions. Spellman was then ordered to contribute €300 to the court poor box for the Probation Act Section 1(1) to be applied.
