A MAN who repeatedly punched two Gardai during a vicious attack is facing prison.
Repeat offender Mark Paton, Greenhills, Letterkenny already has a suspended prison sentence hanging over him, Letterkenny District Court heard today.
Inspector Michael Harrison today outlined a shocking incident last October when Gardai attempted to question Paton outside an Aldi store in the town.
“Paton is known to local gardai and to the garda drugs unit,” said Inspector Harrison outlining the case.
“Gardai attempted to speak to him and noticed that he had thrown away a package. One Garda then retrieved this package and Paton jumped on him, punching him with his fist on three occasions.”
When a second Garda intervened, Paton also struck him.
Eventually they managed to restrain Paton, handcuffed him and took him to Letterkenny Garda Station.
The package, said the inspector, was later found to contain two ecstasy tablets.
Paton was charged with assaulting two gardai, criminal damage and possession of drugs.
Inspector Harrison told Judge Paul Kelly that Paton had quite a number of previous convictions for drugs offences, traffic offences and unlawful possession of firearms.
He also said Paton had a four-month prison sentence – suspended from another case – hanging over him.
At the request of solicitor Frank Dorrian, Judge Kelly agreed to a one-week adjournment.
Paton will be sentenced for his latest offences next Monday.