A 21-year-old man who impersonated a Garda in a Kells street was badly beaten when people he accosted beat him up, Trim District Court was told. Kian Murphy, Birch Lawn, Johnstown, Navan appeared at the court charged with impersonating a Garda.
The court was told that defendant was on the street at Headfort Place. He came across other people and he pulled out a phone and said “stop, Garda”. A person who was being videoed by defendant resented this and assaulted him.
Sergeant Peter Clarke said that, in fact, the defendant had just used the word “Garda”. Defending barrister Niall Gallagher said that his client had been “acting the eejit” on the night. He said he had lost 40% of his ear as a result of the assault.
Judge Eirinn McKiernan directed defendant to pay €500 to the Garda Benevolent Fund.
