Court told man assaulted gardai

A man taken from a fire in a Garda cell assaulted two officers after being brought to hospital, a court was told yesterday.

A man taken from a fire in a Garda cell assaulted two officers after being brought to hospital, a court was told yesterday.

Noel Hegarty (38), of River Valley, Swords, was convicted at Dublin District Court of two counts of assault and breach of the peace at the Mater Hospital on July 8th, 1997.

The court was told Hegarty bit Garda Niall Murphy on the hand and tried to headbutt Garda Noel Melvin at the hospital.

Garda Murphy said they were trying to restrain the defendant after he became abusive to the guards and hospital staff.

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The garda added that Hegarty had been arrested earlier for a breach of public order in a pub and claimed to have suffered smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in his cell.

Ms Yvonne Bambury, defending solicitor, said her client had been injured five years ago when he was forced to jump from a fire in a Galway hotel and had developed a fear of fire and enclosed space.

Judge Miriam Malone remanded the defendant on bail to September 8th for a community service report in lieu of a three month prison sentence.