Man fleeing Gardaí leapt into lake in escape bid

The air and sea rescue services had to be deployed to rescue a man who went into the water at Lough Atalia last month while running from Gardai.

Judge Mary Fahy said it was outrageous that the RNLI, the Shannon Air and Sea Rescue helicopter and a unit of Galway Fire Brigade had to be deployed to take Ciaran Higgins (26), a native of Ballymahon, Co Longford, from the water on June 9 last.

Higgins appeared in custody before Galway District Court last week where he pleaded guilty to several drug-related charges.

The court heard the first offence Higgins faced occurred on August 24 last year when he kicked out at Gardai who went to arrest him for causing trouble outside a city nightclub.

Then on February 16 last Garda received a report of a man snorting white powder at High Street.  When he spotted the Gardai approaching him, he placed a packet in his mouth and swallowed it.  He was extremely intoxicated at the time and was arrested.

The incident which occurred on June 9 last began at Wellpark Retail Park, where Gardai noticed three men, including the accused, acting suspiciously.

Higgins had a package concealed in his sock and he ran away as the Gardai went to search him.  He ran across the busy road at Moneenageisha and down onto the shoreline at Lough Atalia.

Gardai pursued him but he jumped into the water, necessitating the deployment of the emergency services.

Higgins was finally retrieved from the water by firemen.

The court heard he had previous convictions for trespassing and damaging property in January last year and for obstructing Gardai on two occasions as they tried to carry out drugs searches on him.

Defence solicitor, Valerie Corcoran, said these were serious matters and her client had a lot of charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

She said he had developed mental health issues over the years and realised he needed help and treatment now.

Noting a bench warrant had issued for Higgins the previous week, when he had been due for sentence on the above charges, Judge Fahy said it was clear he was not interested in rehabilitation or treatment at this stage.

She then imposed sentences totalling eleven months, including five months for the Lough Atalia incident.  She imposed a further consecutive but suspended five-month sentence on him for the offence committed at High Street when the swallowed the packet of white powder.