Delivery man drove with garda’s arm trapped in car window

A delivery man who drove his car for more than 50m while a garda’s arm was trapped in the driver’s window has received a suspended sentence.

Danilo Rodriguez (44), of Kimmage Grove, Kimmage, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Garda Niall Mulvaney at Westmoreland Street, Dublin, on June 10th, 2015.

The assault took place shortly after Mr Mulvaney, who was on traffic duty, directed Rodriguez to leave a bus lane.

Rodriguez was unhappy with this interaction and drove back to get Mr Mulvaney’s ID number.

Sgt Anthony Collins told the court that Rodriguez stopped in the middle of traffic and Mr Mulvaney approached him to tell him his details.

The court heard Mr Mulvaney told Rodriguez to turn off his engine but he ignored this direction.

Mr Mulvaney then reached in through the driver window to turn the engine off at the same time that Rodriguez went to close the electric window.

The garda’s arm became trapped in the car.

Rodriguez then drove 51m before stopping the vehicle.

The victim was pulled along by the car and forced to run backwards as it travelled at about 30km/h.

Injuries

Sgt Collins said Mr Mulvaney suffered nerve damage and tendinitis, which was still causing him some pain. He was also out of work for nine months following the incident.

Judge Martin Nolan gave Rodriguez a two-year suspended prison sentence.