Ireland Man sentenced for obstructing a garda on bus in Kildare
John McDonagh, a 26-year-old man from Ballymun, Dublin, was sentenced to a 30-day term at Naas District Court in March 2023 for obstructing a garda. He became intoxicated and abusive to passengers on a Dublin-to-Galway bus on 24 September 2021 near Kilcock, Kildare, and refused to provide his personal details. Multiple gardaí were required to remove him from the bus, and pepper spray was used. He was arrested at 3pm that day, entered prison on 15 November 2022, and appeared by videolink for sentencing, where he apologised and attributed his behaviour to an addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced17 Mar
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- John McDonagh, 26, of Ballymun, Dublin, became intoxicated and abusive to passengers on a Dublin-to-Galway bus and refused to provide personal details.
- Multiple gardaí were required to remove him from the bus and pepper spray was used.
- Where
- The incident occurred at the M4 Kilcock, Kildare.
- When
- The incident occurred on 24 September 2021 and he was arrested at 3pm.
- Charges
- He was prosecuted for obstructing a garda.
- In court
- He appeared by videolink at Naas District Court in March 2023.
- Sentence
- He was sentenced to a 30-day term.
- Other details
- He entered prison on 15 November 2022.
- He has a dozen previous convictions, including four for public order matters.
- He attributed his behaviour to an addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs taken for depression.
16 statements extracted from the articles
- whatJohn McDonagh, 26, of 16 Carton Road, Poppintree, Ballymun, was prosecuted for obstructing a garda. (kildarenow.com)
- whatGardaí received a public order call from the bus driver as the vehicle travelled from Dublin to Galway. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe defendant was intoxicated and abusive to other passengers. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe defendant was highly intoxicated, highly agitated, and travelling to a birthday party. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe defendant refused to provide personal details. (kildarenow.com)
- whatSgt Mary Meade said the defendant became increasingly abusive and aggressive and more gardaí were required. (kildarenow.com)
- whatA number of gardaí were needed to get him off the bus and pepper spray was used. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe defendant has a dozen previous convictions, including four for public order matters. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe defendant was struggling with alcohol abuse. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe defendant was going through a difficult break-up at the time and has three children. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe defendant had represented Ireland in boxing competitions on a few occasions. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe defendant attributed his behaviour to an addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs, which he began taking because of depression. (kildarenow.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on 24 September 2021 at the M4 Kilcock. (kildarenow.com)
- whenThe defendant was arrested at 3pm. (kildarenow.com)
- whenThe defendant entered prison on 15 November 2022. (kildarenow.com)
- courtThe defendant appeared by videolink and showed a certificate he had attained in custody. (kildarenow.com)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Mar2023COURT: International boxer pepper sprayed by gardaí in Kildare bus incident
Reports the sentencing of John McDonagh, 26, to a 30-day term at Naas District Court for obstructing a garda on a bus near Kilcock in September 2021. He appeared by videolink from prison, where he had entered on 15 November 2022, and apologised for his behaviour, attributing it to alcohol and prescription drug addiction.
suspect, John McDonagh, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McDonagh