John Gavin sentenced for threatening garda in court

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

John Gavin was sentenced to 20 months in prison by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The proceedings were reported on 4 April 2019.

Gavin pleaded guilty to threatening Garda Sergeant Amanda Flood. The incident took place at the Four Courts on Chancery Street, Dublin, on 29 May 2015.

Garda Sergeant Ronan Walton told the court that Gavin attended a hearing that day at which a judge revoked his bail. The report said Gavin shouted that the law was corrupt and became aggressive when Sergeant Flood tried to speak to him. He followed her around the courtroom, shouting obscenities and threats, and stopped when additional gardaí arrived.

Gavin apologised to the court, said his actions were very disrespectful and said he had not been taking his medication. Pieter Le Vert BL, defending, said Gavin had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was taking anti-psychotic medication.

The 20-month sentence was ordered to run consecutively to a six-year sentence Gavin was already serving after a jury convicted him of rape.