A SCAFFOLDER who got involved in a vicious fist fight with another man on a city street claimed he was smashed over the head with a bottle and was bleeding from a cut on the head.
Patrick McGuinness (28) claimed he was only defending himself after a man picked him up, threw him on the ground and started punching him.
McGuinness said the attack on him arose following an earlier incident in a pub, after he innocently asked another smoker for a cigarette, and was told to “f*** off”.
He also claimed he was delighted when gardai intervened in the dispute, and said he continued to struggle, as he didn’t realise the men standing over him were gardai.
McGuinness, of Melesian Avenue, Swords, was found guilty before Swords District Court of public drunkenness and threatening and abusive behaviour.
Judge Patrick Brady fined McGuinness €450 and ordered him to complete 100 hours’ community service in lieu of 10 weeks in prison.
Garda Leonard Clarke said he was on mobile patrol on Swords Main Street around 2am on November 28 last when he saw McGuinness, wearing a T-shirt and jeans, run across the road towards a group of people standing at a bus stop.
Garda Clarke said McGuinness got involved in a fist fight with another man.
The court heard gardai were forced to take McGuinness to the ground, where he continued to struggle.
Subdue Garda Clarke said he warned McGuinness to stop struggling, but he failed to do so, and he was forced to use OC spray to subdue him.
McGuinness said he was struggling because he thought he was still being attacked.
He claimed he was walking home when he was jumped upon by another individual, following an earlier incident in a Swords pub. Judge Brady said McGuinness’s behaviour was a lot more than self-defence.