Heroin dealer injured Garda’s hand

A man who was disturbed as he attempted to sell heroin in the city last year, later lashed out at a Garda, leaving him with a lasting injury to his hand, Galway District Court heard.

In imposing an 18-month sentence, Judge Aeneas McCarthy said that there were no mitigating circumstances to lessen the term imposed on Martin Carroll (27), with an address at Fairgreen Hostel.

“It was a violent attack on a Garda doing his duty,” he said.

The defendant pleaded guilty to having diamorphine (heroin) for sale or supply at the Fisheries Field, University Road, on January 25 last year, with damaging property at Galway Garda Station, and with a serious assault on Garda Brendan Owens.

Inspector Mick O’Dwyer told the court that two Gardaí were on patrol on the night in question when they observed three males acting suspiciously.

As Garda Brendan Dooher approached Carroll, whom he recognised, the defendant threw some items over the riverbank. When his person was searched, Carroll was found to be in possession of 10 small plastic bags containing diamorphine, and €170 in cash, in €5 notes.

He was arrested at 12.05am on suspicion of having drugs for sale or supply, and taken to Galway Garda Station. During the subsequent interview he was asked what was the substance in the bag, to which he replied: “I’ve a good idea it’s heroin.”

He then became very agitated and punched interview recording equipment, causing €400 worth of damage.

When he was moved to the cell area, he became violent, and refused to remove his belt or hand over his property. He had to be restrained, with the assistance of other Gardaí and, during the scuffle, he lashed out at Garda Owens, hitting him on his hand.

He had to be taken to UHG, where he was found to have broken his fifth metacarpal.

The Garda, who said that the injury had not healed as well as was hoped, was one month on sick leave and had been unable to drive himself to medical appointment, which meant that his wife having to take time off work also.

“It hasn’t knitted or aligned correctly, which is probably the cause of why I’m still in pain,” he said.

“I spoke to a second consultant, who said that the only resolution would be to wait two years and have the bone re-broken and re-straightened, but there may be other complications.”

The court heard that Carroll had 58 previous convictions, among them for theft, burglary, drugs, and criminal damage offences.

His solicitor, John Martin, offered his client’s apologies to the Garda, adding that he had shown remorse soon after the event, as was evident by his reply when charged with the assault.

He said that his client had been a heroin addict since he was 18, but that he had sought treatment a year ago, and was now doing well.

“Over the last 12 months, he has made quite a bit of effort to treat his addiction, and the cause of his offending,” Mr Martin said.

Judge McCarthy imposed a nine-month sentence for the assault on the Garda, and a further nine months for having the heroin for sale or supply.

“There are no mitigating circumstances… he has an appalling previous record, and I can give him no credit for that,” Judge McCarthy concluded.

Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal, on his own surety of €300, and an independent surety of €900, one-third to be lodged.