Courts / Dublin / Report

Drug user in syringe struggle with garda at station

Date
2019-07-17

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Ruairc Bell, 44, pleaded guilty to possession of a syringe with intent to threaten or cause injury after a syringe fell from his underwear during a confrontation with Garda Damien Byrne at Store Street Garda Station on 29 March 2017. Bell was arrested, searched, and a needle containing heroin was found. He held the needle toward the garda, prompting a struggle that ended with Bell restrained. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced Bell to 18 months imprisonment, suspended in full on the condition of keeping the peace and good behaviour for that period. Bell has 12 prior convictions, including robbery, theft and public order offences. His defence lawyer, Karen Dowling, noted he was homeless at the time, drug‑free for two years, and had apologised to the garda. The judge cited the seriousness of the offence and the impact on the garda as aggravating factors, while Bell's guilty plea, remorse, age and treatment history were mitigating factors.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Drug user in syringe struggle with garda at station. Charges or matters: possession of a syringe with intent to threaten or cause injury at Store Street Garda Station, Store Street, Mountjoy, on March 29, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 29, 2017 Incident
2019-07-17 Publication

Case subjects

Ruairc Bell

Convicted Person

Charges: possession of a syringe with intent to threaten or cause injury at Store Street Garda Station, Store Street, Mountjoy, on March 29, 2017 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced Bell to 18 months imprisonment, but suspended the entirety of the sentence on condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for that period.