Courts / Dublin / Report
Man attempted to join Foreign Legion after breaking into garda station armed with curtain pole
Summary
Ross Gaffney, aged 20, was sentenced next month after breaking into Balbriggan Garda Station armed with a curtain pole and damaging a patrol car. He pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and criminal damage on 15 October 2020. Gaffney has no prior convictions and has been under psychiatric care since his teens, including admission to a psychiatric unit in 2020. He was arrested after gardaí subdued him while he shouted for a sergeant and held the curtain pole. CCTV showed him entering the staff car park, striking a garda car three times, then entering the station through a back entrance. No victim impact statements were filed, and the gardaí involved did not take time off. The court ordered further reports, a probation assessment, and a urine analysis, and adjourned the case to 16 December for finalisation. The judge described the case as "highly unusual.".
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man attempted to join Foreign Legion after breaking into garda station armed with curtain pole. Charges or matters: aggravated burglary and criminal damage at Balbriggan Garda Station on October 15, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 15, 2020 Incident
- December 16 Adjournment
- 2022-11-23 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: aggravated burglary and criminal damage at Balbriggan Garda Station on October 15, 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She ordered further reports and adjourned the case until December 16 for finalisation.
Places mentioned
- Hamilton Terrace
- Balbriggan
- criminal damage at Balbriggan Garda Station
- Balbriggan
- station orderly at Balbriggan Garda Station
- Gaffney then entered the garda station
- At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Dublin
Topics
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