We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
A YOUTH WHO played a role in attacking gardaí with a “barrage of missiles” as they attempted to investigate reports of a stolen car being driven dangerously in Dublin has avoided a jail term.
Glen Lieghio, 20, who was in a group of 20 to 30 youths, threw “anything he could find” at the gardaí and addressed one by name, telling him: ‘Next time you are in Darndale, you are dead.’
A second garda escaped injury after a rock thrown at him instead hit a mobile phone in his pocket.
Lieghio, of Buttercup Park, Darndale pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to violent disorder and criminal damage at Marigold Avenue, Darndale on 24 July 2015. He has no previous convictions.
Judge Karen O’Connor said the gardaí had encountered “extremely violent behaviour” and it was fortunate none of them had been injured. She said it was “unacceptable” that gardaí had come under attack when carrying out their lawful duty.
She noted Lieghio had accepted responsibility for his role and appeared to be genuinely remorseful. She told him he was “on the cusp” and had to put this behaviour behind him.
O’Connor imposed an 18-month sentence which she suspended in full on condition he enter a good behaviour bond and undergo one year’s probation supervision.
Sergeant Brendan Bergin told Gerardine Small BL, prosecuting, he and a colleague attended a green area in Darndale after receiving a call about a car being driven dangerously there.
Bergin said he observed a large group of youths acting in a disorderly manner. He saw a Nissan Micra drive towards the crowd before crashing a short distance away.
He said the group of youths began to turn on him and his colleague as he approached the car and attempted to make an arrest. He said they sustained a “barrage” of stones, bottles and other missiles.
Drugs and alcohol
Bergin said he observed Lieghio, amongst the group of 20 to 30 youths, throwing “anything he could find”. He said Lieghio told him: “Brendan I will get you, you bastard, and next time you are in Darndale you are dead.”
He said other gardaí arrived to help them but they were outnumbered and forced to withdraw from the area. He said Lieghio and a number of youths were still throwing missiles, some of which narrowly missed him.
Bergin said he observed a colleague, Garda James Mulhern, being hit with a rock thrown by Lieghio. It struck him just above the hip impacting with and smashing his mobile phone.
He said as they left the area youths continued to run towards the patrol car and throw items. Lieghio, who had been recognised at the scene, was arrested several days later.
Defence counsel, Pieter Le Vert BL, said Lieghio had instructed him to apologise to the gardaí.
Le Vert said his client had fallen in with a bad crowd and had been abusing drugs and alcohol at the time. He said Lieghio has since become a father and taken steps to change his ways. He said his client was willing to continue this work.
He said Lieghio lives with his mother, who is in ill health, and assists in the care of a sibling. He said his client had been injured in a car crash two years ago and is not in employment.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
nice one
Vincent Browne is a ledgend and is the only real journalist out there that reports the issues that the public want to hear and not a load of bs that the government and the papers feed to its people every day.
I’m sick to death of hearing more of the same regurgitated about the bank debt…repeating it won’t change anything. Energies are better focused on what we can do to turn things around
Becaue the bank debt matters. You are paying for it with YOUR money. I’m not sure if your post is meant to be sarcastic but on the current trajectory, we are heading for a second bailout with savage austerity. If you’re ok with that, good luck!
I hear ya Brenda. (Most) Irish peoples attitudes are a big reason I want to do a few years abroad working, not the economic crisis!
A good news story, a murder suspect tracked down. Good work by Gardai & Interpol. a long wait for family of victim. Plenty of coverage of our banks etc … A dangerous man behind bars has to be a good result.
The Police have done their job but my original point is that people on here are starting the vigilante thing. Brave computer warriors. Aren’t people more concerned about issues close to home like our banking debts that we are saddled with?
Tim – your Facebook details alone scream anti anything other than Sinn Fein. Please reserve these ludicrous comments for relevant articles regarding government, economy, Europe (not the football) etc. otherwise stop peddling this anarchism on completely unrelated articles.nnThanks,nEvery other reader
Not every story is going to be about bank debt.
Can we move onto more relevant stories closer to home please. Namely, the Bank debt.
lol.. did you just get the internet yesterday? Bank debt.. shur that’s hardly relevant these days.
Anyways.. fair play to Interpol and our Gardai. At least something positive still exists in this debt ridden hole of ours!
mart,
You’re not as clever as you want others to believe. Few vigilantes go on a witchhunt except those with little or no news to report as a journalist. At least Vincent Browne is one respected journalist to admire – he covers issues of interest to the Irish people.
You need to lighten up, Tim. Not everything revolves around our national debt… good things can still happen when you fell like you’re in the doldrums.
Hi Tim,
Plenty of economic stories on the site today. Here’s just one:
Thanks,
Sinead
Jesus Tim, if you want to read about debt and economic woe by all means look at the titles before you click in. This is a good news story – yes, they still happen – don’t dampen it with your negativity. Good news TheJournal et al. I remember seeing the story a few weeks ago. nnNext theyve got to find DJ MorgIOS…couldn’t resist….
In the end there shall be only 1
My god Tim I’m losing the will to live reading your comments. How negative, boring and repetitive can one person be? Maybe you’re just trolling like lots of other people on this site?
What Bank debt, it’s now the Irish Taxpayers’ debt. The un-named bondholders are laughing all the way to their Euro banks with our money given to them by that idiot Cowen in late night deals and now supported by this spineless government.
If they put him in a cell with Sean Quinn, who would walk out alive?
If they put me in a cell with him instead of Sean Quinn, he’d probably walk out alive because I would probably have died from boredom.
Hyperbole media is replacing tabloid media. Personally, I no longer read newspapers that report on court cases because it’s merely an attempt to cover-up for their lack of journalism. Negative news reporting with titles like “man arrested for xyz” or “man jailed for xyz” is boorish.
“Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations.”
― George Orwell
Yeah yeah yeah, whine, whine, whine, what a ball of fun your friends must find you. Life goes on with or without bank debt. I am not here forever and intend enjoying the time I am here so not planning on spending it whining.
Because the bank debt matters everything else doesn’t…. Yeah, sure, nice one… Go away, your boorish
Tim ( bank debt ) Jackson. Has a nice ring to it. As many here have pointed out there are a couple of stories here day to day on the dealings of the banks and they like of scoundrels like Quinn. This is the journal.ie not bankdebt.ie. it was interesting to see some post about your Facebook saying your were pro SF. Is it any wonder you are not find of Interpol. Half the shiners are on the run with a boot full of stolen ink
Edit .Fond of interpol. Thanks you and goodnight.
have your say