A judge has warned a Longford pharmacist he faces the prospect of a ‘significant’ jail sentence after he assaulted a garda, following a high-speed chase.
The court heard the garda dislocated his shoulder, broke his finger, and missed 18 months’ work.
At Longford Circuit Court today, 42-year-old Sean Stakelum, of Park Road, Longford, pleaded guilty to charges arising from incidents in October 2020 – including assaulting a garda, dangerous driving, and drink and drug-driving.
Sergeant Gerry Newton said, at around midnight on October 4th, Stakelum was driving a Jeep at high speed around Market Square in Longford town.
He said gardai pursued him but he failed to stop, drove erratically and through red lights.
The court heard Stakelum eventually lost control of the Nissan Qashqui near Lidl and damaged a wall.
Sergeant Newton said he resisted arrest, assaulting Garda Barry Gillespie, and tried to flee the scene on foot.
Stakelum was eventually restrained on the grounds of a nearby school, after two civilians intervened to help Garda Gillespie.
The court heard Stakelum was nearly four times over the drink-driving limit and tested positive for cocaine.
In his victim impact statement, which he read out in court, Garda Gillespie said he was out of work for 18 months after the assault.
He said he had a dislocated shoulder, broken finger and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
He said it had a lasting emotional impact on his family, and that he missed out on career opportunities.
He said he holds no ill feeling towards his attacker.
Stakelum’s barrister, Barry White, said his client apologised.
He said he took part in a GAA county final earlier on the day of the incident, but was sent off.
The senior counsel said Stakelum went to a pub in Longford afterwards, couldn’t get a taxi home, and then made the ‘ridiculous decision’ to drive.
He added his client didn’t set out to assault the garda but to resist arrest for dangerous driving.
He said Stakelum had good character, with no previous convictions, and returned to Longford to open a pharmacy.
He said a drugs conviction could have repercussions for him with "his professional body".
He said he has a son and he's responsible for the maintenance of that child.
He urged Judge Jonathan Dunphy not to jail him for what he called ‘one night of lunacy’.
Judge Dunphy asked if Stakelum had a significant amount of compensation for Garda Gillespie.
He adjourned the matter until next Thursday but warned Stakelum he could face jail.
