Ireland Man sentenced for threatening behaviour towards gardai in Limerick
Martin Riordan, a man from Ballyhahill, Limerick, was highly intoxicated on 31 May 2021 and made attempts to strike gardai with a belt wrapped round his fist at his home, where there was also a scene with his partner. Gardai used pepper spray to subdue him after several attempts to calm him. He pleaded guilty at Newcastle West Court to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour towards gardai and to being intoxicated in a public place. He was given a two-month suspended jail sentence, suspended for two years, with the judge warning he would be imprisoned for similar behaviour. He had 22 previous convictions including a number for similar offences.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced27 Oct
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- He was highly intoxicated and made attempts to strike gardai with a belt wrapped round his fist at his home, where there was also a scene with his partner.
- Gardai used pepper spray to subdue him after several attempts to calm him.
- Where
- The incident took place at his home in Ballyhahill, Limerick.
- When
- The incident occurred on 31 May 2021.
- Charges
- He pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour towards gardai and to being intoxicated in a public place.
- In court
- The case was heard at Newcastle West Court.
- Sentence
- He was given a two-month suspended jail sentence, suspended for two years.
- Other details
- He had 22 previous convictions including a number for similar offences.
- The judge warned he would be imprisoned if he came to the attention of gardai with similar behaviour.
- The day of the incident was the anniversary of his brother's death two years earlier.
- The judge said he could have been charged with a more serious offence.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatHe was highly intoxicated and made attempts to strike gardai with a belt wrapped round his fist (limerickleader.ie)
- whatGardai used pepper spray to subdue him (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThere was a scene with his partner at the time of the incident (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour towards gardai (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeHe also pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in a public place (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Newcastle West Court (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceMartin Riordan was given a two-month suspended jail sentence (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceThe two-month sentence was suspended for two years (limerickleader.ie)
- otherHe had 22 previous convictions including a number for similar offences (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe charge of being intoxicated in a public place was taken into consideration (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe judge warned he would be imprisoned if he came to the attention of gardai with similar behaviour (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe day of the incident was the anniversary of his brother who had died two years before (limerickleader.ie)
- otherHe had a serious drink problem but had stopped ten years ago (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe judge said he could have been charged with a more serious offence (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Oct2021Intoxicated man who fought Limerick gardai with belt had to be pepper-sprayed
Reports the conviction and sentencing of Martin Riordan for Section 6 public order offence and intoxication, including details of the incident, his 22 previous convictions, and the judge's remarks.
convicted, Martin Riordan, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Riordan