A man in his 20s who became embroiled in a street brawl in a midlands town was in such a drunken state he inadvertently punched a garda believing it was the man he was fighting, a court has been told.
Filip Kowalski, of 15 Leader Park, Dublin Road, Longford was out celebrating his birthday on St Stephen’s Day last year when the 21-year-old was spotted rowing with another man along Longford town’s Main Street.
Sgt Enda Daly, for the State, said Garda Padraig Shanley had been on mobile patrol when he went to intervene and break up the fight.
He said such was Kowalski’s “highly intoxicated” demeanour, he “mistakenly punched” Garda Shanley, thinking he was the man he had been fighting.
Sgt Daly said Kowalski apologised for his actions, adding that despite the punch Garda Shanley was unharmed.
Judge Bernadette Owens was told Kowalksi, who pleaded guilty to being found drunk and using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, had one previous conviction to his name.
Filip Kowalski (21) pleaded guilty to public order charges during an incident on December 26, 2024 which resulted in him mistakenly punching a garda in Longford town.
That, the court heard, came on foot of a violent disorder conviction from October 2023 at Longford Circuit Criminal Court.
Bríd Mimnagh, defending, said that incident took place when Kowalski was a juvenile, adding that he had also paid the €1,000 fine and completed 150 hours of community service that came with it.
She said her client had been out celebrating his birthday on the night of his arrest, insisting it was very much a case of “drink in and wit out.”
“He is in gainful employment now and other than that he has not been in any trouble and he is working as hard as he can to move on with his life,” she added, noting how Kowalski was “very apologetic” for what unfolded on the night.
Judge Owens, having taken on board those remarks and his early guilty plea said if Kowalski handed over a sum of €350 to the court poor box, she would be willing to stop short of handing down a conviction.
Following a brief interlude to allow Kowalski go to a nearby ATM, the accused returned to hand in the money with Judge Owens disposing of the case under section 1 (1) of the Probation Act.
News Catch Up – Wednesday 22 January