A man has been jailed for his role in a serious public order incident in Dublin even though it was his first offence.
President of the District Court Judge Peter Smithwick today said he was horrified at the incident which was recorded on video.
"What I saw horrified me and it is the kind of thing that has become far too common", the judge said before imposing a three month prison sentence on William Kelly (22), with an address at Cromcastle Road, Coolock, Dublin.
Mr Kelly denied throwing a bottle at a garda car during the incident which involved a large number of people outside a pub in Parnell Street on July 14th, 2002. He also denied kicking and causing €170 worth of damage a door when taken to Store Street Garda Station.
Dublin District Court was shown a CCTV recording in which several people were fighting as garda tried to separate and arrest some of them. The incident, at the corner of Parnell Street and O'Connell Street occurred at around 2.25 a.m.
Garda Joe Enright said Mr Kelly was one of a number of people verbally abusing officers. He shouted "f...ing scumbags" and told gardai to let go people who were being arrested. Mr Kelly and another man were directed to leave the area but a few minutes later he threw a beer bottle at a garda car.
Garda Enright said Mr Kelly ran away and he caught and arrested him. He was taken to Store Street where he was aggressive and had to be carried into the garda station. As he was being brought in he kicked out at a door cracking a glass panel.
Mr Kelly told the court he was simply "watching the commotion" and while he admitted he failed to move on when directed he said this was because he was waiting to find one of his friends who had got separated from his group.
He said he did not throw anything at the garda car. While in the garda station, Mr Kelly said, he was left sitting on the floor in handcuffs and when he tried to stand up, a garda put a foot on his forehead and pushed him backwards causing his head to bang off the door and crack the glass plate.
Judge Smithwick said the bottle throwing incident was only one part of a serious affray and he convicted Mr Kelly of all charges. He had no previous convictions, the court heard. The judge imposed three-months imprisonment and fixed recognisances for appeal.