Council worker became 'abusive' to Gardaí at checkpoint

A Donegal County Council employee refused to provide his name and address to Gardaí when stopped at a checkpoint while driving a Council lorry.

Patrick Peoples (50), of Glinsk, Cashel PO, Fanad, was charged with a public order offence after becoming ‘very abusive’ to Gardaí and a Road Safety Authority employee.

Peoples appeared at Letterkenny District Court before Judge Deirdre Gearty on a charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting words of behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace of being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace might have been occasioned.

Sergeant Vincent Muldoon told the court that he was conducting a multi-agency checkpoint with colleagues from the Road Safety Authority on November 24, 2021 at Ray, Rathmullan.

A lorry being driven by Peoples approached the checkpoint. Peoples, the court heard, became ‘very abusive’ when asked to pull over for inspection by the RSA employee.

Sergeant Muldoon said Peoples refused to give his name and address and said the RSA had no authority to inspect the vehicle.

Peoples got out of the lorry and proceeded to inspect the RSA inspector’s vehicle.  Sergeant Muldoon recalled how Peoples told the RSA inspector ‘you’re living in the North and working for the RSA’ in what he believed to be a ‘derogatory comment’.

Sergeant Muldoon told Peoples that he had the power of arrest, which he could invoke if he refused to give his name and arrest.

Sergeant Muldoon said: “He was out of the lorry and once he was informed that he may be arrested, he starting banging with his fists on his chest, saying: ‘Oh, you’re going to arrest me. Come on, come on, arrest me.”

Sergeant Muldoon said he was concerned for the safety of the RSA inspector and he sought assistance from Milford Garda Station.”

Sergeant Muldoon said he contacted Donegal County Council to make enquiries with Peoples’ supervisor.

The defendant was wearing a face covering and Sergeant Muldoon said he did not recognise the man.

Peoples, the court heard, asked Sergeant Muldoon who he was.

“He was completely out of control when I gave him my name,” Sergeant Muldoon said.

Peoples was subsequently arrested and conveyed to Milford Garda Station. He was charged with an offence contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.

Solicitor Mr Patsy Gallagher said his client was a 50-year-old married man with no previous convictions.

“It was well known that tho wasn’t his own vehicle,” Mr Gallagher said. “It was quite obvious that it was a Donegal County Council lorry.”

Judge Deirdre Gearty adjourned the matter to November 17, 2022 for hearing.

“What I am after hearing is extremely serious,” Judge Gearty said.