Man who was abusive towards Longford Gardaí ‘absolutely disgusted with his behaviour’

A Leitrim man who is “absolutely disgusted with his behaviour” will return before Judge Bernadette Owens in June.

Kevin Higgins (43) of Drumadorn, Mohill pleaded guilty to obstructing a Garda in the execution of his duties, public intoxication and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour on December 11, 2024 at Shanamullagh, Ballinamuck.

Sergeant Enda Daly told the court that on the date Gardaí encountered the defendant who was intoxicated, aggressive and argumentative.

When the officers attempted to arrest Mr Higgins he fell over and money spilled out of his pockets. The defendant shouted: “You hit me. You're f**ked now, it's all on CCTV.”

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He continued to be aggressive, calling the officers 'c**ts and f**kers'. Mr Higgins was arrested for a breach of the public order. Sgt Daly said the defendant has 19 previous convictions, but that the majority were for road traffic offences.

Solicitor Frank Gearty said his client was extremely remorseful for his behaviour: “He was highly intoxicated at the time. A feature of the case is that he had received a suspended sentence and this was in the embers of his mind when he was confronted by Gardaí on the night.”

Mr Gearty said when Mr Higgins sobered up he tried to make his peace with the Garda: “He went through a trauma when he was young, it has taken its toll on him.”

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The solicitor said of the defendant “in better times he was a farmer” but accepted he has a problem in relation to alcohol.

“He knows this was abominable. He knows he did a great wrong. He would like to think this is the beginning of the end of his alcohol issues. He understands there has to be consequences to his action, what he said was unforgiven and he is absolutely disgusted with his behaviour,” Mr Gearty said.

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Noting the defendant had the suspended sentence already hanging over him Judge Owens said she would adjourn the matter to June 19, 2025: “If he comes into court with a charity donation I may take a certain view, but I'm not making any promises.”

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