Prison term for assault on garda - Courts - Western People

Prison term for assault on garda - Courts - Western People

A man grabbed and squeezed a garda’s groin while being arrested.

Marcus O’Hara, aged 54, of Ashpool, Ballina, appeared before a sitting of Ballina District Court where he pleaded guilty to assaulting the garda and two public order offences.

The court heard that Gardaí were called to Dunnes Stores in Ballina on March 26 last after receiving a report of a drunk male in the store. O’Hara was acting in a threatening and abusive fashion and was upsetting members of the public.

The defendant resisted arrest and reached between one of the officer’s legs, grabbed his groin area and squeezed. There were no injuries sustained but the offence met the threshold of an assault on a garda.

O’Hara has 21 previous convictions, including one for assaulting a garda. He has been in custody since June 9 and appeared in court via video-link.

Solicitor Peter Loftus said his client has issues with alcohol, which is at the root of his offending.

“Mr O’Hara’s record is to put it mildly, horrific,” said Judge Vincent Deane, adding that the guilty plea was the only mitigating factor in the case.

Judge Deane imposed a nine-month prison term. The sentence was backdated to June 9, 2026.