Compensation paid to garda for blood-spitting incident

AN ASHBOURNE man who admitted spitting blood at a female garda had charges of assault, drunkenness and breaching the peace struck out at Dunshaughlin Court last week, after he paid the officer e550 in compensation.

Paul Dowd (23), 95 Milltown Estate, Ashbourne, entered guilty pleas to assaulting Garda Áine Doody and public order offences at Killegland, Ashbourne, on 25th March last.

The garda told the court that she stood back as Dowd spat at her. The court was told that the defendant had been involved in a row with his girlfriend in a nightclub and was escorted out, bleeding from the mouth. Dowd had “difficulty breathing” when the incident occurred.

Modestas Satinskas (26), 54 Bourne View, Ashbourne, was fined e500 when he pleaded guilty to stealing three bottles of Jameson whiskey from Dunnes Stores, Ashbourne, on 29th May last. His solicitor, Mr Liam Keane, told the court that Satinskas was then out of work and stole the whiskey to pay his rent.

The defendant had been between living in Ireland for between one and two years and had never been in trouble before and had found a new job. Garda Robert Butler said that the bottles had been recovered.

Glen Norton (22), 6 Glenshane Close, Tallaght, Dublin 24, was fined e300 for stealing two boxes of Heineken beer at Tesco, Fairyhouse Road, Ratoath, on 5th April last but had a charge of damaging two shop windows at Crinabel Boutique, Main Street, Dunshaughlin, taken into consideration after Judge John Brophy was informed the defendant had paid e240 in compensation.

The judge marked a public order offence summons for the same occasion - 28th January 2006 - taken into consideration. His client had pleaded guilty and was getting treatment, said Mr Keane, Norton's solicitor.