Irate driver broke off clamp with a hammer

A carpenter used a hammer to break a clamp off his car and shouted abuse at the clamper, asking him if he had nothing better to do with his time.

Barry Grant (38), 42 Fana Burca, Knocknacarra, pleaded guilty before Galway District Court to producing a hammer in the course of a dispute outside Clybaun Stores at 7.35pm on February 28 last.

He pleaded guilty also to causing criminal damage to the lock on the clamp, to breaching the peace and to failing to leave the area for a Garda, during the same incident.

Sergeant Paul Duane, prosecuting, told the court Gardaí responded to a call that a man with a hammer in his hand, was involved in a dispute with a clamper.

Garda Aiden Murphy heard Grant shouting abuse at the clamper when he arrived at the scene.

“He called the clamper a f**king pr**k and asked him had he nothing better to do,” Sgt Duane told the court.

Grant ignored Garda Murphy who told him to stop being abusive.  He began shouting abuse again at the clamper and was then arrested and cautioned.

Sgt Duane said eye witnesses told the Gardaí the defendant had been using the hammer to hit the lock off a clamp which had been placed on his car prior to the Gardaí arriving at the scene.

He put the hammer back in his car, but Gardai later found it when they searched the boot.

The court heard Grant had 10 previous convictions for Public Order and road traffic offences.

Defence solicitor, Ronan Murphy said his client had been in a nearby pub that afternoon watching a match.

He had parked in a private residential parking area but thought he was entitled to park there as it was a Sunday.

Mr Murphy said his client was a carpenter who erected signage.

When he came out of the pub and saw the clamp on his car, he took a hammer from his car and removed the clamp.

Mr Murphy said his client was apologetic and he had brought €60 to court to pay for the damage to the lock on the clamp.

Judge Fahy told Grant his judgement was clouded by too much drink.

She told him to have a bit more sense before convicting and fining him €500 for producing the hammer and €100 for damaging the clamp.  The remaining two charges were taken into account.