STREET AGGRO | 

Gardaí pepper-sprayed ‘super-aggressive’ Dublin man who called them ‘rats’

William Brennan had 126 previous convictions, including 64 for public order offences.

Yesterday at 12:56

Gardaí had to use pepper spray and batons on a man when he became “super-aggressive” to them, trying to punch and spit on an officer when arrested on the street, a court has heard.

William Brennan (34) shouted obscenities at the gardaí, calling them “rats” as he violently resisted arrest.

He denied public order offences, claiming the officers had an “attitude” and “roughed him up” for nothing.

Finding him guilty, Judge Treasa Kelly adjourned the case for a community service suitability report.

Brennan, of Shangan Green, Ballymun, Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to garda obstruction, threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour, and public intoxication.

Garda Andrew Fay said he was in a passing patrol car on Shangan Road on March 12, 2021, when Brennan, who had a bottle of beer, started shouting.

Gda Fay smelled cannabis in the air and told Brennan he would be searched.

“He immediately became aggressive,” Gda Fay said. “There were multiple threats, he said ‘go f**k yourselves” and ‘f**k you, you rats. I’m not going with you, f**k yous’.”

Brennan attempted to strike him with a closed fist and to spit on him. A struggle ensued and after pepper spray was “ineffective”, his colleague struck the accused in the leg with a baton.

Brennan was handcuffed and put into the car, where he attempted to headbutt Gda Fay and kicked out at the driver.

The other garda also gave evidence.

The accused told the court he was not drinking or using cannabis and was walking with his girlfriend when the garda “jumped out with a chip on his shoulder” and “roughed me up”.

He said he was “straight away” pepper-sprayed and hit with a baton, and “flung to the ground”. He denied using any profanities.

“They had an attitude toward me for nothing, they were probably having a bad day and took it out on me,” he said.

The court heard it was a “very tense interaction” that “escalated very quickly”.

Defence solicitor Luke Staines argued there was no justification for the search and argued the evidence of gardaí was not consistent.

Brennan had 126 previous convictions, including 64 for public order offences.

Judge Kelly said there had been evidence the accused was “super-aggressive” and gardaí felt intimidated.

She said she would order 150 hours of community service instead of a three-month sentence if the accused is found suitable.