A JUDGE was told yesterday how a man put a tax disc in his mouth when questioned by a Garda about its authenticity.
Two defendants, Vilius Domres and Edmundas Liukimas, both with addresses in Ballykelly, Drinagh, Co Wexford, were both given prison sentences for obstructing a garda in the course of his duties after the incident in which Domres decided to eat a fake tax disc to try and avoid conviction.
When a car belonging to a friend of the defendants was impounded in Gorey Garda station for having a false tax disc on display, the pair decided to go to the Garda station and retrieve the car.
When they got there, Garda William Murphy had the tax disc and his official notebook with him.
Following a short discussion, Liukimas pinned Garda Murphy to the car while attempting to grab the notebook and the disc out of his hands. Liukimas managed to grab the disc, which he handed to Domres who immediately put it in his mouth and swallowed it.
The defendants denied obstructing Garda Murphy in the course of his duties and Domres said he never even saw the tax disc. Liukimas also denied pinning the garda to the car. Garda Murphy arrested Domres immediately and when he came back outside the station, Liukimas was still there so he arrested him too.
When Garda Murphy was asked by Leonard Leader, defending, if it was logical for Liukimas to stay around if he had assaulted a garda, Judge Donnchadh Ó Buachalla interjected by saying: “There is not much logical in this case so far.”
Enniscorthy District Court heard the date on the charge was April 1st, 2008 – April Fool’s Day. However, the judge was not amused. “This clearly is a very serious matter – wilfully obstructing the garda while carrying out his duty. The actions on the day were quite outrageous.”
Domres, who had a string of previous convictions for assault, was sentenced to six months in prison, while Liukimas, who had no previous convictions, was sentenced to three months.