A 39-year-old criminal with 133 previous convictions has avoided jail for spitting in a garda’s face after abusing staff and security guards in a hospital A&E.
Dylan Brady (39), of Cromlech Fields, Ballybrack, pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to assaulting a garda, obstructing a garda, threatening and abusive behaviour, failing to comply with a garda direction and violent disorderly behaviour.
Gardai told the court that Brady had attended St Vincent’s University Hospital as a patient in the A&E department on November 3, 2024 when he became abusive towards security staff and hospital workers.
When gardaí arrived, Brady was also abusive towards them, repeatedly swearing and telling them to “fuck off”. He was given a direction under section 8 of the Public Order Act to stop his behaviour and leave the area, but he refused to comply and continued shouting abuse.
He was then arrested and taken to Donnybrook Garda Station.
Gardaí told the court that Brady was placed in a cell but continued to be abusive by shouting, slamming doors and kicking the walls.
He later put his arms outside the cell hatch and attempted to grab Garda Lee O’Donoghue while repeatedly shouting “fucking scumbags”.
As Garda O’Donoghue tried to restrain him and close the hatch, Brady spat in his face.
The court heard that Brady has 133 previous convictions, including 13 for burglary, 22 public order offences, 16 criminal damage offences, 29 road traffic offences and 15 theft and fraud offences.
Defence solicitor, Andrew Vallely, said his client suffers from schizophrenia and psychosis and had not been medically compliant at the time of the offences.
Mr Vallely said Brady has long-standing addiction issues dating back to his teens but is now in residential treatment at Coolmine Lodge and is engaging well.
Judge Anne Watkin said the violent behaviour in the garda station was “pretty serious” and that Brady’s actions could have “caused a riot”.
However, she said she was prepared to deal with the matter under the Probation Act in light of his guilty plea and his progress in treatment.
She placed Brady on a 12-month probation bond on his own bond of €500, with an independent surety of €500.
Conditions of the bond include that Brady must notify gardaí immediately if he leaves Coolmine Lodge, remain off alcohol and illegal drugs, engage with the Probation Service and treatment providers, take all prescribed medication, complete residential treatment and engage in aftercare.
Judge Watkin warned Brady he “will be jailed” if he commits any further offences.