Man who drove onto bonfire and assaulted three gardai given chance to quit drug habit
Gardai said a member of the public found the body at about 6.30am today at Cherry Orchard Parade in the Ballyfermot area
A man who drove a car onto a bonfire at Halloween while drunk and then assaulted three gardai has been given a chance to overcome his drug addiction by a judge.
Darren McKevitt (26) of St Peter's Road, Walkinstown, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to arson of a car, dangerous driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without insurance and three counts of assault at Durrow Road, Crumlin on October 31, 2014.
He also pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen Toyota Avensis, a stolen PSV certificate, an Irish driving licence and insurance certificate and unlawful possession of a stun gun, all at Cushlawn Park, Tallaght on November 24, 2014.
Judge Patricia Ryan applied a probation bond on McKevitt, saying he had to continue working with probation officers and undergo drug rehabilitation and employment training. She ordered him to return before the court on July 1, 2016.
The court heard McKevitt has nine previous convictions, including one for possession of drugs for sale or supply.
Garda Michael Creegan told Monica Leech, prosecuting, that his colleague, Garda Micheal O'Sullivan, arrived at a bonfire scene and saw a car doing handbrake turns around it.
Then "to his horror" he saw it drive onto the fire and then saw McKevitt jumping out and running away.
Punch
Gda O'Sullivan and Reserve Garda Sean White chased McKevitt, who swung a punch at Gda White, causing him to fall and fracture his ankle. McKevitt said "take that, pig", said Gda Creegan.
McKevitt also assaulted Gda O'Sullivan and Gda Donal Faye before being arrested and taken to Crumlin Garda Station.
A blood sample revealed he was five times over the alcohol limit for driving.
Defence counsel Libby Charlton told Judge Ryan that McKevitt had completed a five-week drug counselling course and was now drug-free.