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Man armed with wooden chair leg who told gardai he was "going to go to town" on another man escapes prison sentence

Summary

Gerard Keane, 24, of Mooretown Avenue, Swords, was given 240 hours in lieu of a three‑month prison sentence after pleading guilty to possessing a wooden chair leg, threatening and abusive behaviour and intoxication at Broadmeadow Estate on 14 July. Garda Miriam O'Donovan reported that four men were drinking Heineken there; Keane had the chair leg and was directed to drop it. A friend of Keane's claimed he had been assaulted with a hurley, but no complaint was filed. Keane told the court he was "going to take lumps out of the c**t" and "going to go to town" on the alleged assailant. In a separate incident on 14 April, Keane, drunk, abused Gardaí, attempted to kick a passing car, and smeared blood in the Swords Garda Station cell, incurring a €66.40 cleaning bill. Defence solicitor Fiona D'Arcy noted Keane had the chair leg when Gardaí arrived and was off the drink again.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man armed with wooden chair leg who told gardai he was "going to go to town" on another man escapes prison sentence. Charges or matters: possessing the weapon, using threatening and abusive behaviour and being intoxicated at Broadmeadow Estate in Swords on July 14th. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• July 14th Incident
• April 14th Incident
• 2014-12-08 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

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Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report