A man who deliberately swung an e-bike at a garda who was attempting to enforce Covid lockdown rules has been sentenced to 20 months in prison, reports RTE.
In the early hours of 23 May 2021, Corey Plunkett (32) was outside with several other men when gardaà approached to disperse the group under the partial lockdown restrictions still in force.
Plunkett, who was riding an e-bike, began circling the officers. When one garda moved to apprehend him, Plunkett deliberately swung the e-bike, striking the officer in the eye, reports RTE.
The injured garda suffered a cut around the eye that required stitches but has since made a full recovery.
Officers arrested Plunkett and brought him to Monkstown Garda Station, where he remained uncooperative and assaulted the member-in-charge, Gda Kevin O’Keefe told Brian Storan BL, prosecuting, reports RTE.
Plunkett of Rosary Terrace, Library Road, Dún Laoghaire, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a garda in the execution of his duty at Monkstown on 23 May 2021.
The court heard he has a previous conviction for assaulting a member of the public on the street in 2019. He was separately convicted for the assault at the station and received an eight-month sentence.
Silvia-Maria Crowley BL, defending, said her client’s offending stemmed from 2021 and earlier when he was battling serious addictions to cocaine, crack cocaine, cannabis and alcohol, reports RTE.
She told the court the father-of-two has since transformed his life and brought €2,000 to court as a token of remorse.
Judge Martin Nolan noted Plunkett has a history of violent behaviour and appeared to have anger management issues at the time.
He directed that the €2,000 be offered to the injured garda and, if refused, donated to a local charity, stating the main purpose was to punish the defendant, reports RTE.
He imposed a 20-month prison sentence to run from today.
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