Ombudsman probes Westmeath spat in which man warned garda he would 'call to his house' and 'get him off duty'

"The pair, moments later, left the area and walked onto the town's Austin Friar Street where Donoghue hurled a volley of verbal abuse at Garda Enda Kelly. Sgt Kenny said the accused shouted a series of foul-mouthed expletives at the garda before Donoghue referenced Garda Kelly's home address while telling him to "watch out" as he was "going to call to his house" and "get him off duty.""

"During Garda Kelly's attempts to arrest Donoghue, Sgt Kenny said the Mullingar man continued to lash out until officers ultimately subdued him. It was at this stage the other man who had been in Donoghue's company attempted to interfere with the latter's arrest during which a second reference was made concerning the officer's address. The incident, Sgt Kenny added, resulted in a large number of gardaí being called to the scene."

Thomas Donoghue, 37, of Raithin, Ashe Road, Mullingar, Westmeath, was drinking and loitering with a group of men on Austin Friar Street on March 13 last year while on bail. Gardaí attempted to remove alcohol but Donoghue and another man refused and physically resisted. Donoghue hurled foul-mouthed abuse at Garda Enda Kelly and threatened his home address, saying he would "call to his house" and "get him off duty" while traffic and a public bus passed. Donoghue lashed out during arrest attempts until officers subdued him and another man interfered. A large number of gardaí attended. Donoghue has 48 prior convictions, including public intoxication and threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, and probation reports were mentioned in his defence.

Read at Irish Independent