Shouted abuse at court witness under State protection

A 26-year-old man who stood on top of a car and “roared abuse” at a State protected witness while he was drunk in a housing estate,  appeared at Limerick District Court charged with the public order offences. Gardai told the court that Thomas Brommell of Caislain Na Habhainn, Castletroy, was intoxicated on August 1 last and was observed by members of the force, who were on a State witness protection detail, hurling abuse at the witness they were protecting.

The incident happened in the same estate that the accused resides at.
Evidence was heard that Mr Brommell was heard calling the State witness, “a rat”.
Gardai made their presence known and sought the accused to refrain from his actions; however, the court heard that he became abusive as he continued his verbal attack.
He was later arrested and charged.
John Devane, solicitor for the accused, told the court that his client had since apologised to the gardai and that it had been some two years since he came to the attention of the gardai.
Judge Eamon O’Brien said that he would review the matter on December 13 next, and ordered Brommell to pay the sum of €300 to the court poor box in the meantime.