Mayo garda claimed driver threw a cup of coffee in his face

A Ballinrobe man appeared in court accused of abusing gardaí and calling them 'Templemore p***ks'

By Anton McNulty Published 21st May 2026, 15:00 BST A Mayo garda claimed a cup of coffee was thrown in his face | Local Library A Ballinrobe man appeared in court accused of abusing gardaí and calling them 'Templemore p***ks' Sign up to our Mayo Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Mayo Live within your account.

A Mayo garda claimed that he had a cup of coffee thrown in his face and called a 'Templemore p***k' during a routine traffic stop in south Mayo.

Colm O'Malley (28) of Cregduff, Ballinrobe appeared before Castlebar District Court where he was accused of being abusive to gardaí and resisting arrest after he was stopped for holding a mobile phone and not wearing a seat belt on the Kilmaine Road in Ballinrobe on August 19, 2025.

The court heard that it is alleged that Mr O'Malley became abusive to gardaí after they tried to seize his Volkswagen Caddy van for not having tax.

Outlining the allegations against Mr O'Malley for jurisdictional purposes, court presenter, Sergeant John O'Reilly explained that the defendant became abusive to members of the road policing unit not long after they stopped his van at 10am.

Sgt O'Reilly said it is alleged he told Garda John Barrett that it took him five years to learn to tie his shoe laces in Templemore and that he was 'only a pr**k'.

Gardaí discovered that the tax had expired on the van for the last two months and informed Mr O'Malley that they were going to seize the car.

Sgt O'Reilly said that when gardaí went to take the keys from the ignition, it is alleged that Mr O'Malley resisted saying they are 'not seizing my f***ing van' and broke the key and refused to hand it over.

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Judge Vincent Deane was informed that it is alleged Mr O'Malley continued to be abusive to Garda John Barrett and Garda Fergal O'Gara claiming he would fight them in court and called them 'Templemore pr**ks'.

Sgt O'Reilly said it is alleged that after Mr O'Malley failed to desist, Garda O'Gara went to arrest him and took him from the vehicle. He alleged that Mr O'Malley had a cup of coffee in his hand and threw it in Garda O'Gara's face before running across the road and jumped over a stone wall into a field. He was not apprehended on the day.

After hearing the outline of the allegations, Judge Deane refused jurisdiction and adjourned the case until June 17 for service of the book of evidence.