Dundalk Court: Man pulled down his trousers after being stopped by gardai

A 41 year old man who pulled down his trousers after being stopped by gardai in a local housing estate, denied at Dundalk district court last week that he replied "is that all you've got" after he became aggressive and was pepper sprayed.

Padraig McArdle of no fixed abode in Dundalk, had contested charges of using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, and being intoxicated in a public place at Mullaharlin Park, Dundalk on June 17th last year.

The investigating garda told the court he had been on mobile patrol with a colleague in an unmarked Hyundai Tucson when they saw a man cycling with his hood up in Mullaharlin Park. They pulled alongside the bike in order to speak to the cyclist and the witness claimed the defendant, who "was clearly intoxicated" said he wasn't going to pull over.

He then threw his bike on the ground and said 'search me' after swearing at a female garda. He then pulled down his trousers fully exposing himself. The witness said he told Mr McArdle to calm down, and while the defendant had pulled his trousers back up, he continued to be very aggressive towards them and pepper spray was sprayed into his face, after he "squared up" to the female officer.

The garda claimed the 41 year old in response to this had replied "is that all you've got". He added the defendant was handcuffed on the ground and began spitting in the back of the patrol car, as they waited for a garda van to arrive and asked "how do you like sitting in my spit". The witness said Mr. McArdle had also attempted to break the windows by kicking out at them.

The Defence barrister argued the spitting was a natural response to being pepper sprayed, while Mr. McArdle claimed he'd been knocked off his bike by the garda vehicle and he didn't know its occupants were guards as they hadn't shouted to identify themselves and no badges were produced.

He claimed he couldn't breath, or see - never mind spit anywhere and added "But it fits the narrative". He also denied saying "Is that all you've got" adding "It's beyond me how anyone could say something like that unless they're the Incredible Hulk." and claimed his vision only returned in the cell at the garda station.

After convicting him, Judge Ciaran Liddy heard he had 97 previous convictions. The Defence barrister said his client is on a disability payment due to PTSD which the lawyer alleged arose from trauma during his detention in St. Michael's House. Judge Liddy Imposed a three month sentence for threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and marked the second public order charge taken into consideration. An appeal was subsequently lodged.