Court hears man who claimed he was going to be killed by Longford gardaí suffered ‘drug induced paranoid delusion’

The Armed Response Unit was called on a man who, in a state of drug induced paranoid delusion, claimed he was going to be killed by Longford gardaí at a petrol station last year.

Defendant, Marek Ryczkowski of 10 Ardnacassa Manor, Longford, pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly engaging in conduct which creates a risk to another and driving without insurance.

The first State witness, Garda Noel Fahey, gave evidence of the events of April 10, 2022. At 3:40pm at Texaco Camlin Service station Michael Connolly and his wife Petunia Connolly stopped to get fuel.

Petunia Connolly stayed in the car, her husband went into the shop. While the car was parked the defendant pulled into the garage and collided with the Connolly's vehicle.

Mrs Connolly described “a loud bang” as the car ran into the side of the car. Mr Connolly emerged from the petrol station, and spoke to the driver of the car that crashed into his stationary car. Mrs Connolly was “totally dazed” by the incident.

Mr Ryczkowski got out of his car and had blood on his right hand. When Mr Connolly said he was going to call the gardaí the defendant started shouting. He said: “Don’t call the Longford guards,” and, “Help me, they are trying to kill me.”

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The court was told that Mr Ryczkowski was “suffering from delusion”. He said Longford gardaí were corrupt and were out to kill him. He had earlier called the 999 service saying someone was trying to shoot him.

Gardaí were on alert because during that call the defendant said someone had a gun, and later a civilian witness called gardaí believing Mr Ryczkowski had a gun in his car.

When Mr Connolly said he was going to contact emergency services the defendant wrote on a piece of cardboard “Call Dublin gardaí”.

CCTV of the collision was shown to presiding Judge Kenneth Connolly, with the judge noting the car was going very slow as it crashed into the other vehicle.

Because of the reports of a weapon a large number of gardaí attended at the scene, along with the mobilisation of the Armed Response Unit and a hostage negotiator.

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The defendant was shouting in Polish and English. When the officers arrived Mr Ryczkowski stepped out of his car and lay on the forecourt.

The defendant was detained under the mental health act, however psychiatric services said he was not suitable for an involuntary admission.

A search of his vehicle found a canister of pepper spray. Mr Ryczkowski made full admissions to owning the pepper spray, saying it was for his protection and that he did not know it was illegal.

Counsel for the defendant, Kieran Collins BL, described the behaviour of the married father of two as “an aberration”.

He explained that a friend of his clients had paid him a visit after being released from prison. The other man asked him to mind a bag, which the defendant reluctantly agreed to do.

The man returned some time later and the two men started drinking. Mr Collins explained that the other man put amphetamines in the defendant's drink.

The barrister told the court his client had developed a paranoid delusion under the influence of the drug that he was being targeted by Longford gardaí.

He Googled 'how to get help' and deduced that he should go to the nearest petrol station. Mr Ryczkowski got into his car and drove to the Texaco station. He also called the emergency service number, which alerted gardaí to the incidents that followed.

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Mr Collins said his client is not an inherently bad person, but "had made a bad decision in taking drugs".

The defendant is in full time employment, the father of two children and there have been no further offences since.

He has two previous convictions, both dating back to 2007, one for burglary, the other for a breach of the public order, the defendant received fines in both cases.

He has resided in Ireland for the last 17 years.

The defendant's letter of apology was read into the court. In it he spoke of his ruefulness for causing trouble for the filling station owner, the community and the gardaí: “I will regret my behaviour for the rest of my life,” he said.

Although the sole provider for his family the defendant had compensation of €1,115 in court.

Judge Connolly said the events of April 10, 2022 were “very frightening” for everyone who witnessed them. The judge said significant Garda resources were engaged on the day.

Although the court was not presented with a victim impact report the judge observed it “must have been quite stressful, terrifying and disruptive” to the people in the filling station.

Judge Connolly noted factors like the defendant's early guilty plea, a probation report ranking him as having a “low risk of reoffending”, and that Mr Ryczkowski has not come to adverse notice of gardai since.

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The judge said the endangerment charge could attract a seven year sentence, while the no insurance charge could merit two years in custody. Ranking the endangerment at the “lower end” the penalty could be mitigated to 18 months.

Judge Connolly suspended that sentence for a period of three years on the defendant's own bond of €500 on the condition the accused pay a total of €5,000 in compensation by December 31.

A disqualification of three years was imposed for driving without insurance, while all other matters were taken into consideration.