Ashbourne man charged with obstructing gardai trying to reach injured woman

A JUDGE was told that a Garda was blocked from entering a house and was assaulted by the husband of a woman who was lying on the hallway of the couple’s home.

The Garda and two of his colleagues had responded to a call to go to the house.

Judge Fiona Brennan after hearing the evidence in a contested case said it was quite clear the gardai were carrying out their duty, and was satisfied that an assault and obstruction had been perpetrated on one of the gardai.

Judge Brennan convicted 73 year-old retired truck driver Brian Davidson of Brookville, Hunters Lane, Ashbourne and fined him €300 in respect of the assault and took into consideration a second charge for obstructing the gardai.

Trim District Court heard that the incident took place on 16th September 2024.

Garda Leahy recalled that the defendant answered the door and was very aggressive, referring to Ggardai as the devil. A woman who was his wife and for whom it was stated the defendant was her carer was lying on the ground on the floor in a distressed state.

Evidence presented by Garda Leahy and two colleagues, who accompanied him to the address, was that Ms Davidson called for help and invited the garda to come into the house. She was described as intoxicated. The defendant made it clear the Garda weren’t welcome.

Garda Leahy said the defendant stood in front of him and refused to allow him pass. He grabbed the Garda’s stab vest and gouged his eye. The defendant struck him on the side of the head.

Further assistance was required as two of the Gardai restrained the defendant and placed him on a couch in a room.

Garda Leahy said he suffered a few minor cuts to the head and didn’t receive medical attention.

Brian Davidson gave evidence that he didn’t strike the Garda. He said he put his hand up to protect and defend himself.

The defendant’s wife said she was intoxicated. She remembered being in the hall and there was noise at the door. She didn’t know “why or what.”

She asked for her husband to be left alone because he did nothing wrong.” She didn’t invite the Garda in.

She didn’t witness an assault on the Garda.

Judge Brennan commented that the defendant’s response was irrational and inappropriate, and he had a preconceived notion of the members of the Garda Siochana. She fixed €200 cash bail for the defendant to appeal.

- Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme