A MAN who abused a garda in Clonakilty after she requested to see his driving licence has been convicted and fined €500.

Brendan O’Sullivan (52), of Castletown, Ballyagran, Co Limerick, was charged with a public order offence, failing to give his personal details to gardaí and failing to produce his driving licence.

The State withdrew charges of failing to produce insurance and driving without a licence.

Gda Karen O’Flynn told Clonakilty District Court that she was on patrol in Clonakilty at around 7.55pm on October 31st 2024 when she observed a dark BMW driving in front of her at McCurtain Hill, Clonakilty.

‘The driver was holding a hand-held device. The area was dimly lit and it could be clearly seen,’ said Gda O’Flynn.

She then signalled the driver to stop at Assumption Place and spoke to the defendant and told him she had seen him holding a device while driving.

‘He became irate and argumentative and accused me of harassing him, even though it was the first time I met him.’

He then refused to show her his driving licence, when asked for it a second time and he also refused to give his name and address.

Gda O’Flynn said she told him she wanted to check the discs on his windscreen.

‘I noticed that the car then slightly rolled towards me.’

A group of trick-or-treaters made up of two women and a number of children were nearby.

One of the women, who heard the altercation, said she was anxious to pull out of a car parking space parallel to Mr O’Sullivan’s.

‘She then shouted at the man in the car. I cannot recollect what he said,’ said Gda O’Flynn.

She radioed for backup from Clonakilty Garda station and two male colleagues arrived soon after.

When asked again to show his driving licence, he held it up to the windscreen.

‘I told him I could not read it and asked could I hold the licence but he refused,’ Gda O’Flynn issued a fixed penalty notice and informed him that he would have to show his certificate of insurance at Bandon Garda Sation.

The fixed penalty fine was paid 108 days after the incident, the court heard.

Defence solicitor Conrad Murphy said his client produced his licence and insurance document on November 9th 2024.

‘He has no previous convictions and is apologetic for his behaviour on the night. He works hard in construction and had a number of close bereavements within three months of that incident,’ said Mr Murphy.

He said his client has since asked to speak with Gda O’Flynn to apologise in person.

‘At this late stage I won’t accept it,’ said Gda O’Flynn.

‘All she was doing was her job and for that she was confronted with animosity, gross disrespect and threatened,’ said Judge Joanne Carroll.

Judge Carroll convicted and fined him €250 with four months to pay for failing to give information when asked and she convicted and fined him a further €250 with for months to pay for the public order offence.

She struck out the charge of failing to produce a driving licence.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.