A Nigerian man who insulted gardaí before trying to bite and spit at them was today fined €150.
Nsa Okpo became involved in a heated confrontation on July 16 last year with officers in a laneway off Moore Street in Dublin after they asked to see his driving licence.
Garda Jason White told Dublin District court that it took three officers to subdue him.
"And all the time, he was very abusive, threatening and attempting to bite and spit," he said.
The court heard that gardai had to call for reinforcements as a crowd of around 100 people gathered around them. They knew Mr Okpo from his work as a street trader.
"The crowd was extremely violent, aggressive and seemed to be responding to the defendant's behaviour. He seemed to be shouting for help, spurring them on," said Garda White.
He told the court that he had stopped Mr Okpo in his car on Sampson's Lane, off Moore Street, and asked him for his driving licence and insurance disc.
He said Mr Okpo began to abuse him, using the word `fuck', despite being cautioned four times to stop.
Solicitor Michael Hanahoe, representing Mr Okpo, asked Garda White if there was a reason for his client becoming suddenly abusive.
"He said you were very aggressive in your attitude towards him, that you took the view that he deserved less respect than someone who was citizen of this country."
Garda White denied this and his colleague in Store Street Garda station, Garda John Daly, said he had only heard Mr Okpo being asked for his driving licence.
"On many occasions, he used the word 'fuck'. He stepped out of the car and and shaped up to me, and said `Do you want a fight?' Of course, I replied 'No'."
Garda Daly said he and his colleagues were knocked to the ground in the struggle with Mr Okpo, who then tried to bite his hand.
Mr Okpo took the stand to deny that he had used any foul language in the incident.
He said Garda White had demanded his passport, driving licence, insurance and proof he owned the car.
"I said he should call the registration (number) on the radio and he did. I said `It's not my duty to tell you if it's a stolen car or not, I'm driving it."
When cross examined by Garda White about his abusive language, he said he could not remember using any.
"You were the one using foul language Jason," he said.
But Judge Hugh O'Donnell said that even if the garda's behaviour was aggressive, Mr Okpo had no right to react in the way he did.
"His reaction was extreme - it took three guards to arrest him and they had to call for assistance. His behaviour was reprehensible," he said.
He fined him €150 for breaching the Public Order act.
PA