Courts / Dublin / Report

"Blood, phlegm and saliva" spat into faces of gardaí and paramedic

Date
2019-02-04

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 4 February 2019, 22‑year‑old Dillon Harris pleaded guilty to several offences. He admitted spraying "blood, phlegm and saliva" into the faces of Garda Gerard Whelan, Garda Peter Byrne and Dublin Fire Brigade Sub Officer Peter Fitzgerald on 21 November 2017, after a stolen Volkswagen Estate crashed into a wall. Harris also pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle without the owner's consent and to reckless endangerment on the same date. He caused €3,456 of damage to an Opel Corsa and was deemed unfit for interview after arrest, later consenting to a blood sample. The court heard he had no prior convictions, was not involved in the theft, and was dealing with addiction problems. The judge remanded him on continuing bail until later this year, when sentencing will occur.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Blood, phlegm and saliva" spat into faces of gardaí and paramedic. Charges or matters: spraying blood at Gda Whelan, Garda Peter Byrne and Sub Officer Fitzgerald at East Wall Road, Dublin, on November 21, 2017; driving a vehicle without the consent of its owner at East Wall Road and to reckless endangerment at Sheriff Street, Dublin, on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

November 21, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
2019-02-04 Publication

Case subjects

Dillon Harris

Defendant

Charges: spraying blood at Gda Whelan, Garda Peter Byrne and Sub Officer Fitzgerald at East Wall Road, Dublin, on November 21, 2017; driving a vehicle without the consent of its owner at East Wall Road and to reckless endangerment at Sheriff Street, Dublin, on the same date (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Ní Chúlacháin remanded Harris on continuing bail until later this year, when she will impose sentence.; Judge Ní Chúlacháin remanded Harris on continuing bail until later this year, when she will impose sentence.