A 24-year-old man who assaulted a female Garda during a drunken incident in Letterkenny has been sentenced to ten months in prison. Glen Friel appeared via videolink at Letterkenny District Court, where he admitted to kicking Garda Aoife McNulty in the stomach during an intervention on May 5, 2022.
The court heard that Friel, who was struggling with drug addiction and mental health issues at the time, had no memory of the event. His solicitor, Rory O’Brien, described the period as a “dark time” in Friel’s life and emphasized his client’s remorse and progress since the incident.
Garda Sergeant Maurice Doyle informed the court that Garda McNulty had to take several days off work due to the assault. Despite the severity of the incident, Garda McNulty chose not to make a victim impact statement.
The assault occurred on Oliver Plunkett Road in Letterkenny while Gardai were responding to a separate incident. During the intervention, Friel lashed out and struck Garda McNulty in the abdomen.
Friel, who is already serving a sentence in Wheatfield Prison for a separate offence, pleaded guilty to the charge of assault causing harm. His solicitor highlighted that Friel has since begun taking the correct medication and is participating in an education program while incarcerated.
Judge Eiteain Cunningham acknowledged the seriousness of the assault, noting that it was at the “upper end” of the court’s jurisdiction. She sentenced Friel to ten months in prison, stating, “He kicked a female Garda in the abdomen while she was carrying out her duties.”
While recognizing Friel’s progress and the mitigation presented, the judge reminded him of the gravity of his actions, emphasizing that such behavior is unacceptable under any circumstances.
