Man is jailed for four years for crime 'rampage'
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
A man has been jailed after he bit an off-duty Garda during an “anti-social rampage".
Bernard McDonagh, aged 30, of Gortnafolla, Turlough, Castlebar, pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to charges of assault causing harm, theft, and criminal damage.
All of the offences occurred on November 19, 2024, when a highly-intoxicated McDonagh assaulted Gda Evan Joyce and Shane Sweeney at Tesco, Castlebar. The defendant bit Garda Joyce as the officer tackled him to the ground. McDonagh had earlier stolen a bottle of gin worth €35 from the supermarket.
On the same date, he stole clothing valued at €420 from TK Maxx in Castlebar and also kicked the wing mirror off a car in the nearby Aldi car park. CCTV of the assaults and criminal damage were shown in court.
Sgt Fiona Farrell said the defendant had gone on an “anti-social rampage”, entering Tesco at around 2.55pm where he began shouting and roaring at staff. Store manager Shane Sweeney barred McDonagh before later discovering he had stolen the gin.
At 5pm, McDonagh went to Aldi car park and tried to open the door of a BMW car. After failing to do so, he kicked a wing mirror of the vehicle. He then entered TK Maxx where he threatened and frightened staff before stealing clothing valued at €420. However, in his drunken state he dropped all the items as he returned to Tesco. The clothing was recovered but was not resaleable.
McDonagh returned to Tesco and became abusive to security staff. He was shown on CCTV adopting a boxing stance as he became aggressive to several staff members. As Shane Sweeney attempted to assist his staff, McDonagh lashed out at the store manager.
Off-duty Gda Evan Joyce was in the store when the incident broke out and sought to defuse the situation but was also struck by McDonagh.
Gda Joyce managed to tackle the defendant, bringing him to the ground, but McDonagh bit the Garda on the chest as he did so.
The court heard McDonagh was “appallingly drunk” at the time of the offences. He has 23 previous convictions.
When the case came before the court for sentencing last week, Judge Eoin Garavan stated that everyone in McDonagh's presence was "at risk". The judge imposed a four-year prison sentence, suspending the final year of the term.
- Published as part of the Court Reporting Scheme
