Courts / Dublin / Report
Man head-butted garda after girlfriend interrupted date with another woman, court hears
Summary
Christopher Morrissey, aged 29, was jailed for 21 months after a drunken driving incident on 4 October 2014. He had been driving a taxi back from a pub with a woman he met online, then attempted to turn his car around, colliding with three parked cars. While being taken to a squad car, he head‑butted Garda Kevin Gaynor, causing a cut to the officer's mouth and damage to his teeth. Morrissey resisted arrest, refused to provide a blood or urine sample, and was found intoxicated in a public place. He also faced charges of assaulting a Garda, resisting arrest, refusing a sample, intoxication, breach of the peace, and driving without insurance. With 60 prior convictions and recent disqualifications for 12 and 15 years, the court imposed a 21‑month custodial sentence and a five‑year driving disqualification. The judge noted his cavalier attitude towards road rules and the seriousness of the offences. Christopher Morrissey pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man head-butted garda after girlfriend interrupted date with another woman, court hears. Charges or matters: assaulting Garda Kevin Gaynor causing him harm, resisting arrest, refusing to give a sample of blood or urine, intoxication in a public place, breach of the peace and driving without insurance in Clontarf in the early hours of October 4, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 4, 2014 Incident
- 2015-10-08 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assaulting Garda Kevin Gaynor causing him harm, resisting arrest, refusing to give a sample of blood or urine, intoxication in a public place, breach of the peace and driving without insurance in Clontarf in the early hours of October 4, 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Morrissey, who was disqualified from driving, tried to turn the car around but instead collided with the other vehicles. Judge Nolan imposed a 21 month sentence and disqualified Morrissey from driving for five years.
Places mentioned
- Howth Road
- Dublin
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- his teeth. At the garda station
Topics
Drunk And Disorderly Pubs And Nightclubs Stage Sentence Taxi Trouble
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