A youth from Tallaght, Co Dublin, who gave a garda the two fingers salute and then threatened to "get him" by running him over, has been fined €125 at Dublin Children's Court.
The youth (17) had denied making threats and being in breach of Section 6 of the Public Order Act for engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour, near his home in west Tallaght on May 1st last.
Garda Gerry McGroarty, Tallaght station, said the incident occurred while he was escorting a Dublin Bus inspector on his rounds. Due to anti-social behaviour, he said it was common practice to escort the inspectors when they did spot checks on buses.
Garda McGroarty told Judge Geoffrey Browne that when he stepped out of the inspector's van, the youth gave him the fingers and proceed to hurl abuse at him, in front of passengers disembarking from a bus. The youth shouted: "I will get you in a few days you pig." He then threatened the garda that he "would run him over", the court heard. The teenager was warned that he would be arrested but the verbal abuse escalated.
The youth told the court he was sitting on a wall with friends when the garda arrived. He said he ran away without making any threats or insulting remarks or actions.
In cross-examination, he said he ran because he did not know who the garda was. Earlier, Garda McGroarty had told the court that he was a community officer in the area, was wearing his uniform at the time and the youth was known to him. Judge Browne said he was satisfied the youth was guilty and he fined him €100. He was also fined €25 for driving a car without a licence or insurance.
He adjourned the case to March 5th, pending a report from the probation and welfare services.