Father of three (35) accused of attacking female garda in Dublin

Kenneth Fox

A father of three has been accused of attacking a female garda who was hospitalised after an incident in north Dublin on Thursday night.

Gary Hunt, 35, was charged with assault causing harm to the officer, causing her harm at the Beaumont House car park, resisting her colleague Garda Allanah Murphy, failing to pay a €20 fare and smoking in a taxi at the same location.

Mr Hunt, of Whiteacre Crescent, Ballymun, Dublin is also accused of other offences that continued into the early hours of Friday.

They are criminal damage to windows in a patrol car, being intoxicated in public to the extent of being a danger to himself and threatening, insulting or abusive behaviour and violent behaviour at Ballymun Garda station.

He appeared before Judge Catherine Hayden at Dublin District Court but has yet to enter a plea. He was bailed to appear again in October to obtain directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Garda Murphy alleged that her colleague required treatment in hospital after an alleged assault by the accused.

She told the court there was CCTV evidence and that Mr Hunt smashed windows in a patrol car before using a “high level of violence” when taken to the station and attempting to attack other gardaí.

Questioned by defence solicitor Daniel Hanahoe, she said the DPP’s directions were not available. Mr Hanahoe stressed his client still enjoyed the presumption of innocence, and these were only allegations.

She added that his client, who is on social welfare, would abide by conditions which were imposed.

Mr Hunt, who did not address the court, was ordered to appear again in October and was granted legal aid.