A man caused consternation in a courtroom yesterday when he triggered a fire extinguisher while trying to escape after a seven-day prison sentence, for contempt of court, had been imposed on him at Castlebar District Court.
A mobile phone belonging to Kieran Loftus, from Bunnahowna, Mulranny, went off while he was making an application under the Police Property Act for the return of money taken from him by gardai in May 1999.
When Judge Mary Devins reprimanded him, Loftus answered back. When the judge said she was jailing him for contempt, Loftus made a dash out the doorway, knocking a fire extinguisher from the wall.
Members of the public and some solicitors and gardai were left coughing and spluttering as a cloud of dry powder from the extinguisher drifted from the hallway into the chamber of the court.
It took a number of officers, who were covered in extinguisher powder afterwards, to arrest Loftus (31). He was taken to Castlerea Prison to begin his seven-day sentence.
The judge adjourned the court for half-an-hour to allow the powder from the extinguisher to settle.
As it drifted into the courtroom it caused nasal and throat congestion for some of those inside.
Garda William McAndrew had earlier given evidence that in May 1999 he had searched a car driven by Loftus which contained a substantial amount of cannabis resin hidden in the steering column.
He said he also found a knife in the car and in a subsequent search discovered £750 on Loftus.