Ireland Case No. 20947Endangerment; driving without insurance · Co. Longford · 10 Apr 2022
Man given suspended sentence over Longford petrol station incident
On 10 April 2022 at the Texaco Camlin service station in Longford, a man named Marek Ryczkowski called 999 saying someone was trying to shoot him, and a large Garda response followed, including the Armed Response Unit and a hostage negotiator. Ryczkowski pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly engaging in conduct that creates a risk to another and to driving without insurance. At sentencing, reported on 24 May 2023, Judge Kenneth Connolly suspended his sentence for three years on his own bond of €500, conditional on him paying €5,000 in compensation by 31 December, and disqualified him from driving for three years. The most recent reported development is that sentence, published on 25 May 2023.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced25 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A man named Marek Ryczkowski of Longford was involved in an incident at a petrol station in Longford.
- Where
- The incident happened at the Texaco Camlin service station.
- When
- The incident took place on 10 April 2022 at 3:40pm.
- Cause
- The defendant was in a state of drug-induced paranoid delusion and believed Longford gardaí were going to kill him.
- Counsel said another man put amphetamines in the defendant's drink.
- Weapon
- A search of the defendant's vehicle found a canister of pepper spray.
- Investigation
- The defendant called 999 saying someone was trying to shoot him.
- Because of reports of a weapon, a large number of gardaí attended the scene, along with the Armed Response Unit and a hostage negotiator.
- Charges
- The defendant pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly engaging in conduct which creates a risk to another and to driving without insurance.
- In court
- Judge Kenneth Connolly noted the defendant's early guilty plea and that he had not come to adverse notice of gardaí since.
- Sentence
- The judge suspended the sentence for three years on the defendant's own bond of €500.
- The suspension was conditional on the defendant paying €5,000 in compensation by 31 December.
- The defendant was disqualified from driving for three years for driving without insurance.
- Other details
- The defendant was detained under the mental health act, but psychiatric services said he was not suitable for involuntary admission.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whereThe incident happened at the Texaco Camlin service station. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on 10 April 2022. (longfordleader.ie)
- causeThe defendant was in a state of drug-induced paranoid delusion and believed Longford gardaí were going to kill him. (longfordleader.ie)
- causeCounsel said another man put amphetamines in the defendant's drink. (longfordleader.ie)
- weaponA search of the defendant's vehicle found a canister of pepper spray. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationThe defendant called 999 saying someone was trying to shoot him. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationBecause of reports of a weapon, a large number of gardaí attended the scene, along with the Armed Response Unit and a hostage negotiator. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeThe defendant pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly engaging in conduct which creates a risk to another and driving without insurance. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe judge said the events of April 10, 2022 were very frightening for everyone who witnessed them. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe judge noted the defendant's early guilty plea and that he had not come to adverse notice of gardaí since. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceThe judge suspended the sentence for three years on the defendant's own bond of €500. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceThe suspension was conditional on the defendant paying €5,000 in compensation by 31 December. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceThe defendant was disqualified from driving for three years for driving without insurance. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe defendant was detained under the mental health act but psychiatric services said he was not suitable for involuntary admission. (longfordleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 25 May2023Court hears man who claimed he was going to be killed by Longford gardaí suffered ‘drug induced paranoid delusion’
Sentencing report of the case. Adds the guilty plea, the suspended sentence with bond and compensation terms, the three-year disqualification, and the pepper spray found in the vehicle. No existing case matched.
convicted, Marek Ryczkowski, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Marek Ryczkowski