Three men have been sentenced in Belmullet District Court to three months in prison and fined €500 each, following their conviction for assaulting a garda sergeant during a protest in Bellanaboy, Co Mayo on 12 October 2006.
Patrick O'Donnell, aged 49, from Porturlin Shore, Ballina, his 21-year-old son Johnathan O'Donnell and 21-year-old Enda Carey also of Porturlin, Ballina were all convicted of assaulting Sgt Donal Glennon on that date.
Judge Mary Devins ruled that during a protest the three men formed a scrum and charged the garda sergeant, causing him to fall into a ditch.
One of Sgt Glennon's thumbs was broken in the incident.
The judge added that while she accepted that the men did not directly intend to cause the garda harm, they had intended the assault, and that they were reckless as to what affect their actions would have.
Johnathan O'Donnell was sentenced to a further month in prison and fined a further €200 for assaulting another garda on the same date.
Patrick O'Donnell was taken into custody at the court. Johnathan O'Donnell and Enda Carey were not present when the sentence was handed down and will be taken into custody later.
