National: Guilty plea from man who pulled female Garda to the ground by her hair in courthouse

A LAOIS man who assaulted a female Garda by grabbing her by the hair and knocking her to the ground in a Castlebar courtroom will be sentenced in June.

Domhnall Cosgrave of Inchboley, Ballylinan, Co Laois appeared before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Garda Katie Conlon in Castlebar courthouse on April 18, 2023.

The 38-year-old defendant who has been in custody since the incident occurred last April was remanded in custody to be sentenced on June 27, 2024.

The incident occurred in one of the courtrooms of Castlebar Courthouse when Mr Cosgrave attacked Garda Conlon who was on duty at the time.

Mr Cosgrave pulled Garda Conlon by the hair and swung her around and pulled her to the floor of Castlebar Courthouse.

In her statement which was read to a sitting of the district court in December, Garda Conlon feared that the defendant would tear her scalp or bang her head off one of the benches before he was pulled off her.

Dr Laura Byrne, counsel for Mr Cosgrave told Judge Eoin Garavan that her client has no previous convictions in this jurisdiction but has minor convictions from the UK.

She explained that since Mr Cosgrave entered custody on April 19 last, he has benefited from the care of Dr Benjamin O'Keeffe, a consultant forensic psychiatrist in Castlerea Prison. She also added that during his time in custody, he was a patient in the Central Mental Hospital but is now back in Castlerea Prison.

Dr Byrne asked for an adjournment in sentencing for the preparation of a report from the Probation Services as well as a report from Dr O'Keeffe.

Judge Garavan agreed and directed the Probation Service report and a report from Dr O'Keeffe be available before sentencing on June 27.