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Man said he would ‘blow back out of garda's head'

October 9th, 2019 6:03 PM

By Southern Star Team

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A Ballinspittle man who threatened to ‘execute a cop' has been sentenced to two months in jail.

A BALLINSPITTLE man who threatened to ‘execute a cop’ has been sentenced to two months in jail.

Darren Foley of Garrettstown, Ballinspittle appeared at Bandon Court and pleaded guilty to a number of charges including drug driving, no insurance, obstructing a garda, criminal damage and using or engaging in threatening abusive or insulting words and behaviour.

Sgt Brian Harte told the court that on July 8th last the defendant was stopped at a garda checkpoint in Clancoolmore in Bandon. 

He told gardaí that he did not have motor insurance and he later tested positive for cannabis. 

Sgt Harte said Mr Foley was charged and released but failed to appear at Bandon District Court on July 19th and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.

The court then heard that on September 12th last, gardaí received a report that Darren Foley was making threats against a neighbour.

‘When gardaí arrived theymet Mr Foley outside his mobile home, they told him he was being arrested on foot of a bench warrant. 

‘He then became abusive and aggressive to them and resisted arrest and tried to get away,’ said Sgt Harte.

‘Physical force was used to get the handcuffs on him and then he spat at one garda and tried to bite another garda’s nose in the back of the patrol car.’

Mr Foley then threatened that he would burn down the homes of gardaí and said: ‘I’m going to kill a cop’.

He added ‘I am going to execute a cop and I am going to get so much pleasure blowing the back out of your head.’

Sgt Harte said that given Mr Foley’s behavior, a patrol van was called to bring him to Bandon Garda Station. While in the custody cell, he caused €200 worth of damage to a mattress.

Mr Foley told the court that he did not threaten anyone’s house and that when he was put in the cell he was so cold that he took the cover off the mattress to keep himself warm.

He acknowledged that he did shout abuse at gardaí in the patrol car but had been drinking and said it was ‘stupid stuff.’

The court was told that he has 31 previous convictions –  a mixture of public order, drugs and road traffic offences.

Judge James McNulty convicted and sentenced the defendant to 60 days in prison on each charge of criminal damage, using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words and behaviour, obstructing gardaí and failing to appear in court – all to be served concurrently.

For driving with no insurance and drug-driving, the defendant received two sentences of five months each.

However, these were both suspended for two years on the usual conditions, and also on condition that the defendant does not drive during this period.

Judge McNulty also disqualified him from driving for three years and the jail sentence was backdated from September 13th when he was first arrested.

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