Fined Dublin man who spat on garda and was abusive towards staff in A&E is spared jail

A man spat on a garda when he became aggressive after being taken to a hospital emergency department.

Daryl Sullivan (33) was being restrained after gardaí saw him trying to take pills he had concealed in his underwear at the time.

He had been brought to hospital when he was found lying "unresponsive" on a city street.

Sullivan, of Emor Street, South Circular Road was given a two-month suspended sentence and fined €200.

He admitted public intoxication, threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour, obstructing a drug search and possession of zopiclone tablets.

Dublin District Court heard gardaí found him lying on a footpath on July 11, 2020. 

An ambulance was called and when it arrived, he was verbally abusive to gardaí who found tablets  on him.

At the hospital, he continued to abuse gardaí and staff.

He requested to use the toilets and was seen removing more tablets from his underwear.

He tried to consume the tablets and had to be restrained.

He became highly aggressive and spat on one of the gardaí.

Sullivan had 28 previous convictions. The vast majority of his previous difficulties were due to addiction, defence solicitor Daniel Hanahoe said.

He was apologetic and was trying to change his ways, Mr Hanahoe said.

Judge Smyth said he believed a custodial sentence was warranted but said he would suspend it for two years, given the progress the accused was making.