No jail for man who left female garda with severe injuries
An Offaly man who slammed a garda into a shop front, causing her severe injuries, has been ordered to carry out 240 hours community service.
Enda Carroll (aged 23) of The Willows, Mucklagh, Tullamore, was found guilty after a trial at the Circuit Criminal Court of assault causing harm, resisting a police officer and two counts of public order on William Street in the Offaly town on March 12, 2012.
At 1.35am that night, gardaí received a report of men kicking taxis and breaking windows in the town.
When Gda Lucy McLoughlin went to arrest one of the men, Carroll began shouting obscenities at her and refused repeated orders to leave the area.
When she approached him he said he “would bite her face off” before picking her up by the leg and slamming her into the shop front.
Garda McLoughlin's injuries to her hip joint and knee required extensive hospital treatment. It was not clear initially if she would ever return to work, but she is now back on duty.
The court noted today that to his credit, Carroll wrote a letter of apology to the garda.
He is to carry out 240 hours community service in lieu of a two-year jail sentence.
