Man accused of assaulting Portlaoise town bus driver

A MAN who allegedly assaulted and caused injury to a bus driver on the new Town Bus Service in Portlaoise was released on bail when his case came before the local district court.

The court heard that the defendant, Glen O’Neill of no fixed address, had voluntarily consented to being detained in Cloverhill Prison when his case first came before the court on 25 April.

Mr O’Neill is charged with criminal damage to a glass panel door of a bus and with assault causing harm to a bus driver at Dublin Road, Portlaoise on 24 April.

Garda McMahon told the court that on the day in question, he received a phone call from the bus driver while the alleged assault was taking place. When he arrived at the scene, he alleged that he saw the defendant in a very aggressive state. 

He said the man “was screaming, covered in blood and kicking out trying to hurt gardaí and paramedics”.

He alleged that three paramedics were trying to hold down Mr O’Neill during the alleged incident.

He said that Mr O’Neill had to be restrained by being pepper sprayed and handcuffed and allegedly “continued to be very aggressive when he was arrested”.

Garda McMahon said that, arising from the alleged assault, the bus driver sustained cuts to his eyes, hands, elbows and bruising and required medical attention. He said the estimated damage to the bus was €800.

He also alleged that when the bus driver asked to see Mr O’Neill’s ticket, he couldn’t produce one and asked him to get off the bus and that the defendant allegedly then “kicked the door out” and allegedly carried out the assault.

Defending solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said that her client wasn’t known to either the bus driver or the paramedics and it wasn’t the case that he didn’t have a bus pass, “it was just that he couldn’t find it quick enough”.

Garda McMahon said that Mr O’Neill had a free travel pass anyway.

Ms Fitzpatrick said that if her client, who has medical issues, was released, that he would seek accommodation from Laois County Council.

Sergeant JJ Kirby alleged that Mr O’Neill “beat a man in broad daylight. He was on a bus, told to get off and he viciously assaulted the bus driver. It took three paramedics and two gardaí to wrestle him to the ground”.

Releasing Mr O’Neill on continuing bail to 12 May, Judge Fay imposed conditions that include he is of good behaviour, remains drug- and drink-free, observes a 10pm to 7am curfew, reports to Portlaoise Garda Station twice daily, provides a mobile phone number to gardaí and is available to take their calls 24 hours a day, that he has no contact by any means, directly or indirectly, with witnesses and to stay away from all forms of public transport.

Judge Fay said the gardaí have permission to bring the case back to the court before 12 May, should any of the conditions be breached.