A HORSE breeder who remonstrated with gardaí after they had arrested his friend on St Stephen’s Day has been convicted of causing an obstruction.

John Postbeschild (56) of Shanacrane East, Dunmanway appeared at Bantry District Court on a charge of obstructing Gda Damien O’Sullivan, one of two gardaí called to deal with a public order disturbance at 8.20pm on St Stephen’s Day.

Flor Murphy, solicitor, said his client accepted that his behaviour on the evening of December 26th last was ‘out of line and that he should have stayed out of it.’

‘They arrested a person and were taking that person to the garda station when John Postbeschild became involved,’ said Sgt Trish O’Sullivan.

‘He had been socialising with that man and attempted to free his drinking companion. He became aggressive and kept gripping onto the person.’

The sergeant said the accused’s obstructive behaviour continued all the way to Bantry Garda Station at The Quay.

‘He never let go of the person even as they walked through the station door.’

Sgt O’Sullivan said two other members of An Garda Siochána had to get involved because the accused had forced his way into the station.

Mr Postbeschild also pleaded guilty to criminal damage at 9.40pm on November 22nd last.

Sgt O’Sullivan said the owner of JJ Crowley’s Bar asked the accused to leave because of his behaviour on the premises.

‘When he left, he picked up a sign and threw it at the pub window, causing it to break,’ she said.

He then got into a jeep, which gardaí subsequently stopped, and they found the accused, who was a passenger in the vehicle, to be very intoxicated.

Sgt O’Sullivan acknowledged that the accused has no previous convictions and compensation of €300 for the broken window had been paid to the owner of the pub.

Mr Murphy said his client moved from the UK to live with, and assist, his elderly uncle on a farm in Dunmanway.

‘It was bad enough to break a window in November and then, in December, to interfere with gardaí arresting someone on the public street,’ Judge Joanne Carroll observed before placing the accused on a probation bond on condition he co-operate with the probation service. Judge Carroll convicted and fined him €450 on the obstruction charge.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.