County Limerick gardai on routine call threatened with steel bar, hammer and shovel

A COUNTY Limerick man threatened gardai with a steel bar, a shovel and a hammer, Kilmallock Court heard.

Sean Rainbow, aged 20, of Knockrua, Raheenamadra, Knocklong also struck a garda patrol car causing €762 worth of damage.

Rainbow pleaded guilty to three counts of producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury under Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990, and one charge of criminal damage.

Sergeant Michelle Leahy said on March 20, 2018, Garda Jerry O’Connor responded to a call from the defendant’s home.

“The defendant was outside the house when gardai arrived. He was very agitated and aggressive. He picked up a steel bar and threatened to use it. Gardai tried to calm him down. He struck the patrol car.

“He then started waving a shovel in a threatening manner. Gardai feared for their safety and called for more gardai. He then picked up a hammer and threatened gardai,” said Sgt Leahy.

The court heard that Rainbow then went into the house and jumped out of a window.

“Gardai pursued him and caught up with him. He threatened gardai again. He threw the hammer away before they used pepper spray. He was very aggressive on the day,” said Sgt Leahy.

Con Barry, solicitor for Rainbow, said his client apologies to the gardai and the court.

“He has paid €800 in compensation for the damage to the patrol car. He is in receipt of a disability allowance. He has ADHD which causes him to act impulsively as such. He is easily led. He was going down the wrong road with a group of friends who were a bad influence.

“He moved to Limerick city to get out of there. He has always got the bus from the city to Kilmallock for court. He is away from the people he was with and is getting on with his life in Limerick city. He hasn’t come to the attention of gardai since the incident. He does apologise to the gardai and the court,” said Mr Barry.

Judge Marian O’Leary handed down a four month prison sentence, suspended for two years and fined Rainbow €250. She also ordered that he do a drug awareness programme within three months.

Recognaissance was fixed in the event of an appeal.