Richard Woodruffe given community service for abusive behaviour

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

Richard Woodruffe was given 240 hours of community service instead of two months in prison at Swords District Court for threatening and abusive behaviour and intoxication. He pleaded guilty. The proceedings were reported on 3 March 2014.

The report said Garda Alan Carroll arrested Woodruffe after a fight outside a nightclub and that he continued shouting insults at gardaí. Defence solicitor Fiona Darcy said he was intoxicated because of pressure and stress from pending drugs charges; she said he was embarrassed, apologised and willing to do community service.

Judge Dermot Dempsey imposed the community-service order. The court heard Woodruffe had seven previous convictions, including a four-year drugs sentence imposed in January and suspended for four years.