Two individuals who assaulted Gardaí in order to help another person escape from custody have been given their sentences after appearing in Dundalk Circuit Court.

Jack Dawson, 22, from Rowan Heights, Marleys Lane, Drogheda, and Johnny Kelly, 23, from St Finian’s Park, Drogheda, pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them.

The incident took place on December 31, 2021, when the Gardaí were pursuing a stolen vehicle driven by a third party. As they tried to apprehend the driver, they were surrounded by a group of young individuals.

During the altercation, Jack Dawson physically assaulted an officer by punching and kicking him, while Johnny Kelly intervened between a guard and the driver, instructing the driver to flee. Kelly also tore the Garda’s stab vest in the process.

Jack Dawson, who had a history of 13 previous convictions, including four for assaulting Gardaí, was described as a 'public order menace with a negative attitude towards law enforcement.'

Despite his past, Dawson had shown signs of improvement as he was now employed full-time as a scaffolder and had been drug-free with a positive change in his behavior towards Gardaí.

The judge emphasized that the attack on the Gardaí was a deliberate attempt to aid another individual's escape from lawful custody, endangering the people of Drogheda in the process.

Jack Dawson was sentenced to 240 hours of community service in place of a three-year prison term for violent disorder. Additionally, he received a three-year suspended sentence for assaulting a peace officer in the line of duty.

Johnny Kelly, who was also facing sentencing for a separate incident of violent disorder at Wellington Quay on January 30, 2022, was handed a four-and-a-half-year conditional suspended sentence for his involvement in both cases. He was ordered to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of imprisonment.

Despite having no prior convictions of violence at the time of the incident, Kelly had accumulated five convictions, four of which were related to Road Traffic matters. The Probation Service assessed him as a moderate risk for reoffending, noting that he was unemployed and living at home.

Judge Hayes decided to address both incidents collectively when sentencing Johnny Kelly, imposing a conditional suspension of four-and-a-half years for the charges related to the violent disorder cases.