Man jailed after attacking Wicklow garage worker and assaulting garda
The Wicklow PeopleA Dublin man who jumped the counter of a Wicklow garage and repeatedly kicked a staff member, while holding a bottle of rum, has been jailed for his role in the violent attempted robbery and assaulting a garda.
Terry Meegan Jr (33) with an address at Dun Gaoith Heights, Sandyford, Dublin 18 appeared at a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing.
Mr Meegan pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery, one count of assault causing harm, and one count of assaulting a member of An Garda Síochána in the execution of their duties.
The court heard from Garda Emma Jane Doyle of Newtownmountkennedy Garda Station, who said that on November 1, 2024, gardaí received reports of an incident at the Top Oil garage in Newtownmountkennedy in which Mr Meegan jumped over the counter and attempted to take money from the till before assaulting a member of staff.
CCTV footage was shown to the court, which captured the accused jumping the counter while holding a large bottle of Captain Morgan’s rum.
Mr Meegan proceeded to punch the employee to the floor before kicking him multiple times while he was on the ground.
Gardaí arrived and detained Mr Meegan before transporting him to Bray Garda Station. While at Bray Garda Station, the defendant punched Garda Niall O’Brien to the side of the face.
Counsel for the prosecution, James Kelly, noted that it took three gardaí approximately five minutes to restrain Mr Meegan. Gda O’Brien sustained a concussion during the altercation.
Gda Doyle testified that Mr Meegan made certain admissions when interviewed.
The court was told that Mr Meegan has 44 previous convictions, including one for robbery, possession of a firearm and possession of a flick knife.
In 2021, Mr Meegan received four years in prison for his role in a robbery that preceded a fatal collision in Dalkey.
He had pleaded guilty to robbing a Centra shop on Barnhill Road in March 2020, during which more than €800 was stolen.
Mr Meegan and another man fled the shop and got into a car driven by a co-accused, mounted a footpath and struck two women. One of the women later died from her injuries.
However, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Mr Meegan was seated in the back of the car at the time. The vehicle was abandoned at the scene and the three men fled.
During cross-examination, defence counsel Justin McQuade asked Gda Doyle if she was aware that Mr Meegan’s sister had presented at Bray Garda Station looking for her brother, stating that she had been in the process of bringing him to Newcastle Hospital as he was suffering from mental health difficulties.
Gda Doyle told the court that Mr Meegan was prescribed medication while in custody and that she was aware of his mental health issues.
The defendant’s father, Terry Meegan Snr, testified that his son had struggled with his mental health from a young age and had experienced difficulties with his ADHD medication, Ritalin.
“He is kind and caring and well liked, but when his mental health is at a low he needs professional help,” said Mr Meegan Snr, adding that “structured rehabilitation is needed”.
Mr Meegan Snr remarked that he was no stranger to his son’s aggression and had called gardaí over his actions on previous occasions.
In mitigation, defence counsel said the accused had struggled with drug and alcohol problems, but had previously worked as a farrier and as a postman for six or seven years.
Reports handed into the court stated that Mr Meegan is making significant progress while in custody.
During his judgment, Judge Patrick Quinn noted that the CCTV footage was “grim viewing”, but said Mr Meegan was “seriously unwell” at the time.
He imposed a sentence of two years and six months for the assault on the Top Oil staff member and the attempted robbery, suspending the final 18 months of that term.
Judge Quinn said he was required to impose a consecutive sentence for the assault on a member of An Garda Síochána, and handed Mr Meegan a further six months’ imprisonment.
Addressing the accused directly, Judge Quinn said: “When you don’t take your medication, you can’t survive without it,” adding, “You’re nearly in your forties.”