A 27-year-old Donegal man has been fined €1,000 after attempting to pull an arrested man away from Gardai.
Conor McGowan appeared before Letterkenny District Court in relation to the incident at Lower Main Street, Letterkenny, on January 25, 2016.
While on mobile patrol at 2.15am, Garda McBride said he received a call from the communications room at Letterkenny Garda Station relating to an altercation at Lower Main Street.
Gardaí subsequently arrested a male under the public order act.
“While approaching the patrol car, two males – one of whom I know to be Conor McGowan – attempted to pull the arrested male away from me,” Garda McBride said.
“Conor McGowan attempted to place my arm in a lock behind my back.”
The incident was captured on CCTV.
Solicitor for the accused, Patsy Gallagher, said his client, a 27-year-old father-of-one, has been living and working in Scotland for the last nine months.
“He has had severe difficulty with alcohol and other substances,” Mr Gallagher said.
“He had had a bit of attention and has had dependancy on alcohol and drugs.
“He has had difficulty keeping down steady employment, but he has moved to Scotland and has been working full-time since. He is is the process of settling down and he has himself sorted. It has taken time for him to learn and he has learned. He has moved on.”
McGowan was fined €500 for a section 6 offence and fined €500 for a section 19 offence.