Young man under care of TUSLA threatened to kill gardai

A young man who had been under the care of TUSLA, the child and family agency when he committed a number of offences appeared at last week's district court.

In his evidence to the court Sgt James O'Sullivan said Garda Finbarr Leahy was speaking to the 18 year old defendant outside Tullamore Court House on October 6, 2021.

Initially the defendant had cooperated but later he became verbally abusive and spat and punched Garda Leahy and told him he was going to kill him. Garda Leahy called for help and Garda Kieran Ryan came to his aid and the defendant also assaulted him. In the meantime he picked up a Covid sign, the property of the court services and threw it down the steps of the court house.

He also threatened to assault and kill Sgt Richard Thornton who had come to the aid of the other two gardai. Finally he was pepper sprayed and brought to Tullamore Garda Station.

The defendant had 21 previous convictions. The last was at Tullamore District Court on July 6, 2022 when he was given six months probation. He has also spent time in Oberstown children's detention centre.

Most of the offences occurred when the defendant was under 18 years of age Barrister Suzanne Dooner said.

Ms Dooner said the defendant has been engaging with the probation services since 2020 and is on significant medication. He has been welcomed back into the family home and has been looking at becoming an apprentice mechanic. He is apologetic to Gardy Leahy, she said. He wasn't on proper medication at the time.

Ms Dooner said he now presents as a very different type of person and his mother will testify he has changed.

She said he is a very articulate young man with a very bright future ahead. He is on 15 tablets a day.

Judge Andrew Cody said it was ''shocking behaviour'' and noted that he had to be pepper sprayed.

He put the case back to June 21 next for an up to date probation report and told the defendant if he even ''looks crossways'' at a garda he will go to prison and repeated that he is within ''a hair's breadth'' of going to prison.