criminal damage Man who was 'not in his right mind' when he jumped onto garda car given three month sentence

A man was "not in his right mind" when he jumped onto the bonnet of a garda car after officers were called to the scene of a domestic dispute in west Dublin.

Mantas Simkas (34) was sentenced to three months in prison after a judge said his behaviour on the night was "appalling".

Simkas, a father-of-two from Orchard Lodge, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to the patrol car as well as threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour and public intoxication.

Garda Sergeant Maria Callaghan told Blanchardstown District Court that gardaí went to Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin on March 12, as it was reported that a woman was in a verbal dispute with her husband and wanted him to leave.

Aggressive

Mantas became aggressive to gardaí outside and jumped onto the bonnet of their car in an attempt to get away. "Minimal" damage was caused.

Simkas had been in Ireland for 15 years and was looking for work, his solicitor Valerie Buckley told the court.

She asked Judge David McHugh for leniency.

Judge McHugh said while the accused's guilty plea was "of value", the events of the night were "appalling" and he would impose a sentence.

Ms Buckley asked the judge to consider suspending it, saying she did not think her client was in his right mind at the time because of his level of intoxication.

Judge McHugh said the sentence was appropriate but set bail in the event of an appeal.

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Online Editors