A Roscommon man has been jailed for multiple threats and assaults on Gardaí during an incident in March of last year.
Andrew Morris of Cloneen, Athleague pleaded guilty to the offences, which Judge Kenneth Connolly described as the lowest level of human malevolence.
Judge Kenneth Connolly heard that on the 8th of March, 2023, Gardaí were called to the home of Mr. Morris' sister in Cloneen, Athleague.
It was the state's evidence that on the arrival of two Gardaí to the property, Mr Morris become extremely aggressive.
Following exchanges with Gardaí and the arrival of two more members, the 35 year old become more aggressive and began threatening Gardaí.
Mr. Morris violently resisted arrest and in the process injured a number of the responding Gardaí, closing a gate on one, kicking another member and elbowing a Garda attempting to place him in the squad car.
The accused also spat in the face of one Garda and repeatedly threatened both the attending members as well as their families and homes.
In referencing the victim impact statements of the Gardaí involved, Judge Connolly stated that this was the most threatening and aggressive individual they had ever faced.
The court heard that on the day following his arrest, Andrew Morris stated he did not recall what had happened the previous evening and stated he was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.
He claimed he had been abducted from school at ten years of age by Gardaí and waterboarded, leading him to panic when Gardaí attended the property.
Addressing the court, Judge Kenneth Connolly stated that Mr Morris was a chronic alcoholic with addiction issues with almost every substance known to the court.
In way of mitigation, it was argued that Mr Morris had been sober for 36 days previous to the incident but drank a bottle of potin and 4 shoulders of vodka on learning of the death of a close friend in Scotland.
In handing down a sentence, Judge Connolly admitted while the accused had plead guilty and provided an unreserved apology to the Gardaí, intoxication was not an excuse accepted by the court for his behaviour.
Andrew Morris was sentenced on a number of counts with jail sentences set to run concurrently on a headline sentence of five and a half years.
