Courts / Wicklow / Report
Judge warns man who bit garda during courtroom struggle to 'put best foot forward'
Summary
Brandon Power, 22, of St Joseph's Road, Newtownmountkennedy, was sentenced for assaulting Garda Trevor Devereux at Wicklow Circuit Court on 31 March 2018. Power bit the officer's finger during a courtroom struggle, later pleading guilty. Judge Terence O'Sullivan imposed a one‑year sentence suspended for 12 months on 11 April 2019. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient. The Court of Appeal agreed and called for background reports to determine an appropriate sentence. Court President Mr Justice George Birmingham, together with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, were to assess the reports. The case was adjourned to 13 December after a probation report was unavailable. Birmingham warned Power that the matter was very serious, that he must "put his best foot forward," and that a prison sentence was likely even if he cooperated positively with probation. He also cautioned that failure to cooperate could lead to a significantly more severe penalty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Judge warns man who bit garda during courtroom struggle to 'put best foot forward'. Charges or matters: assaulting Gda Devereux and was given one-year sentence, which was suspended for 12 months, on April 11, 2019. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- March 31, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 11, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 15 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 13 Adjournment
- 2021-10-12 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: assaulting Gda Devereux and was given one-year sentence, which was suspended for 12 months, on April 11, 2019 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Brandon Power (22), of St Joseph's Road, Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow was being sentenced on another matter when he lashed out and sank his teeth into Garda Trevor Devereux at Wicklow Circuit Court on March 31, 2018. Power later pleaded guilty to assaulting Gda Devereux and was given one-year sentence, which was suspended for 12 months, on April 11, 2019.; The case, however, was adjourned until December after the court was told an up-to-date probation report for Power was not available.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Wicklow
- Wicklow Circuit Court
- St Joseph's Road
- Newtownmountkennedy
- Wicklow
Topics
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