A Dublin man who assaulted three members of the Garda National Drugs Unit while in custody in a Garda station was given a suspended jail sentence and fined £3,000 at Trim Circuit Court yesterday. James Kelly (38), Lark Hill Road, Whitehall, Dublin, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda John Doherty, Garda Frank O'Neill and Garda Christopher Mangan in Kells Garda station on July 28th, 1998.
Kelly had been detained under the Drug Trafficking Act. The court was told that he has not been charged as a result of the investigation undertaken by the drugs unit at the time.
Judge Raymond Groarke imposed 18-month sentences on each charge, suspended on his keeping the peace for two years and paying £3,000 to the Garda Benevolent Fund.