Drinagh man had to be ‘lifted' by gardaí into Bridewell

A DRINK driver from Drinagh claimed he was treated abominably by gardaí and carried into a garda station like a ‘splayed frog’.

After hearing the contested case at Cork District Court, Judge Con O’Leary convicted James Lynch (56), with an address at The Paddock, Drinagh, of the disputed incident on October 16th 2015. 

The judge fined him €100 for threatening behaviour outside the Bridewell garda station and another €100 for drink driving at Albert Road, Cork. Lynch was also disqualified from driving for six years. Four related charges were dismissed.

James Lynch was in a wheelchair in court and his solicitor, Joseph Cuddigan, said he had a serious disability. The defendant said he could walk on the flat or up one step but not up a stairs.

Garda Karen Ring said: ‘He shouted at myself and Garda Linda O’Keeffe “you are only two f***ing women”. He said he was refusing to get out of the car. He said, “f*** off, guards, I am not getting out of the car, you will have to carry me in”.’

Mr Cuddigan referred to his Constitutional right to his personal dignity.

Sgt Micheál Lucey said: ‘It was venomous stuff coming from Mr Lynch. We had no choice but to lift him from the patrol car to the garda station. From start to finish he was incredibly difficult to deal with – horrible on the night. I have heard mention of the Constitution and everything. It was not that he had objections to the Bridewell per se. He just would not get out of the garda car. We did not want to lift him, but we had no choice.’

Lynch testified: ‘I said I cannot get up these steps. The judge knows I cannot get up steps. I was not abusive. I was protesting. There was no cursing. It is not in my nature.’

He said the guards were lying and covering up because he was going to make a complaint about another guard who was not in court.

‘I was brought in to the station like a splayed frog. I asked did you get your training in Templemore, Poland or Peru. They treated me like dirt,’ the defendant said.

The judge convicted Mr Lynch on the drink driving charge and added: ‘His behaviour outside the Bridewell was unacceptable, abusive and insulting.’