A PEDESTRIAN reacted badly after gardaí stopped him on a drug search, calling officers “rat bastards” and threatening to smash up their squad car, a court heard.
John Joyce (36) resented being searched for drugs as he doesn’t have a drug problem.
Judge Patricia Cronin handed down a six-month sentence, suspended for 12 months.
The defendant, from St Bridget’s Halting Site, Porterstown, Dublin 15, admitted to threats and abusive behavior on May 14 last year and threatened to cause criminal damage at Holywell Heath in Swords.
Garda Craig Smyth told Swords Circuit Court he was on mobile patrol when he saw two men running from the squad car.
Gda Smyth stopped Joyce, finding this behavior suspicious, and told him he would be searched under the Drugs Act.
Joyce became verbally abusive, calling Gardaí “rat bastards” and telling them to be “F**k off, yous are c**ts.”
Gda Smyth said Joyce also threatened to climb on the hood of the squad car and smash the windshield.
Gda Smyth asked Joyce if he intended to damage the squad car, but the defendant refused to answer the question. Joyce later apologized to Gardaí for his behavior, Gda Smyth said.
Defense attorney Fiona D’Arcy said Joyce got into a lot of trouble at a young age but Gardaí have not taken notice of him recently.
Regarding this incident, Ms D’Arcy said Joyce felt Gardaí had wrongly searched him as he did not have a drug problem and that he reacted very poorly. All he did was go to the stores to buy a soft drink, she said.
At this point, Joyce was in a deep depression, having recently buried his mother, sister and two aunts.
Ms D’Arcy said Joyce was a great support to his wife, who was struggling with health, and she asked the judge for leniency.
