A plain-clothes garda chasing a wanted man through his girlfriend's house was blocked by members of her family and punched in the face by one of them, a court heard yesterday.
John Maher (17), Rathdrum Road, Dublin, claimed he struck out at Garda Alan Kelly when the officer arrived in his home because he thought he was a stranger attacking his grandfather. He denied carrying out an unprovoked assault.
Dublin District Court heard that on July 22nd last Garda Kelly spotted a man, Gary Byrne, for whom a number of Circuit Court arrest warrants had been issued. Byrne ran into the home of his girlfriend, Sharon Carr.
The garda chased him into the house and Byrne made good his escape.
John Maher came out of a bathroom and punched the garda three times in the head.
Judge Gerard Haughton said he had no doubt that everybody in the house that day knew what was going on and who Garda Kelly was.
After hearing Maher had no previous convictions, he imposed a fine of £250.