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Cyclist (54) threatened to smash bouncers’ heads in during row at Dublin pub

Robert Fogarty’s aggressive behaviour continued when the garda tried to put space between himself and the accused, the court heard.

Today at 07:30

An “incredibly aggressive” man threatened pub door staff that he would “smash their heads in” during a dispute about locking his bike outside.

Robert Fogarty (54) was arrested as he continued to be violent while gardaí tried to intervene in the melee.

Finding him guilty of public order offences, Judge Bryan Smyth fined him €300.

Fogarty, of Cardy Rock Court, Balbriggan, had pleaded not guilty to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour and public intoxication on December 17 last year.

Dublin District Court heard gardaí were on patrol on Abbey Street Lower at 9pm when they came upon a “melee” outside Wetherspoon’s.

A large crowd had gathered and Fogarty was pointing in a threatening manner at staff and members of the public.

He smelled strongly of alcohol, was “incredibly aggressive” and was raising his fists and “squaring up to” staff.

A garda got between them and Fogarty pointed over the officer’s shoulder at staff, used “animated” gestures and said: “I’ll smash their f**king heads in.”

His violent and aggressive behaviour continued when the garda tried to put space between himself and the accused.

He “encroached on the garda’s personal space” in an effort to get to the security staff.

Fogarty was brought to the ground and arrested. Gardaí found a nearly empty bottle of vodka in his backpack.

Fogarty maintained he had been returning from visiting his son and was passing the pub when he stopped to use the toilets.

He was trying to lock his electric bike to the railings and ask the bouncers if he could use the facilities.

He maintained they told him, “away with you” and he was speaking to them when gardaí came over and “straight away” put him into cuffs.

He denied there was any “aggro” or that he had drunk any alcohol. Fogarty was a stroke survivor and there had been a “pure overreaction” by gardaí, defence solicitor Holly Laher said.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​