Man sentenced for impersonating a Garda and following woman 'just to frighten her'

A suspended sentence has been handed down to man convicted of impersonating a Garda in Kilkenny.

Michael Hogan, Gattabawn via Thurles, Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to the charge following an incident at Bateman Quay, in Kilkenny City, on January 27 last. Mr Hogan appeared in court, last week, for sentencing.

At a previous court appearance Mr Hogan admitted the offence contrary to Section 60 of An Garda Síochána Act.

Evidence was heard that Mr Hogan started tapping on the window of a car stopped in traffic and said ‘I am a member of An Garda Síochána’ before returning to his car.

The female driver of the car drove off and Mr Hogan followed her. A short time later the woman pulled in a Parliament Street and the defendant also pulled in.

The woman rang her husband who told her to drive straight to the Garda station. The defendant remained behind her, revving his engine.

The defendant turned on to the Kennyswell Road and the woman went to the Garda station and reported the incident

‘Didn’t mean anything’

On the last day in court solicitor Chris Hogan apologised on his client’s behalf and said he had been in a bad place at the time.

His client “didn’t mean anything, just to frighten her.”

Mr Hogan had suffered a recent bereavement, the court was told.

“He is a 66-year-old single man with no children and he was the main carer for his mother who had dementia and died two years ago.

“He has genuine remorse and has serious mental health issues,” added Mr Hogan.

Judge Geraldine Carthy remarked to the court that the offence before the court was serious.

“Impersonating a Garda is really serious and then following her. If that was me I would be frightened out of my wits,” she said.

In court, last week, the judge said a Probation Report outlined that Mr Hogan had not been in his right state of mind at the time.

She said she wanted to ensure this did not happen again. Imposing a prison sentence of six months, Judge Carthy suspended it for two years and directed Mr Hogan to fully engage with the Probation Service.