THE "most drunken" man a garda had ever seen threw cups and saucers from his house and threatened gardai with a carving knife before they stormed it with riot shields and arrested him, a court, heard yesterday.
Vincent Harford (34), of Fairlawn Road, Finglas, Dublin, was described as being in a "frenzy" by Judge Michael Connellan after he pleaded guilty to possession of a knife and was jailed for six months.
Garda Vincent Flanagan, of Cabra Garda station, told the Dublin District Court of how he was called to the scene of a domestic dispute at a house on Fairlawn Road on September 17th and saw Harford standing at the door.
When he saw the officers arrive he started throwing cups and saucers and various household items at them. He then began waving a carving knife and ran towards them on the path.
Harford then ran back into the house and threw the knife at the gardai outside. As he continued to throw more cups and saucers at them, the officers were forced to get riot shields and storm the house.
Asked by Judge Connellan if Harford had drink taken Garda Flanagan replied. "He was the most drunken man I have ever seen." Judge Connellan replied. "And you've seen a lot of them."
A solicitor for Harford said his client had a drink problem which had caused the break up of his marriage. He said Harford had in the past sought treatment and asked the court to be lenient.
Judge Connellan said. "Drink is no excuse whatsoever. I hope he has his bags packed because I can't tolerate him coming after gardai with a knife. He was in a frenzy."
Judge Connellan heard he had a previous conviction for assaulting gardai and sentenced him to serve six months in prison for the offence, saying. "He was not so drunk that he couldn't attack the gardai."