A man who threw a machete through the window of a truck stuck in traffic has been jailed for 15 months by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Kevin Ledwidge (23), Ratoath Drive, Finglas, Dublin, pleaded guilty to one charge each of criminal damage, assault, possession of a machete and resisting arrest on January 22nd, 2001.
Garda Liam McLoughlan said the victim of Ledwidge's attack was injured by flying glass. He had been traumatised by the assault. He was an Irish Express Cargo driver stuck in heavy traffic on Cappagh Road in convoy with another company truck when it occurred.
As the machete struck the passenger side window, shards of flying glass injured the driver's face. Ledwidge then jumped on to the steps of the truck. Garda McLaughlin said the driver left the vehicle and began running, shouting to his colleague in the truck behind him to call gardaí. Ledwidge chased him with the machete and the fleeing driver ran over to Garda McLoughlan's patrol car, which he saw was also stuck in traffic.
Garda McLoughlan and his colleague then chased Ledwidge, who was apprehended as he tripped and fell while trying to jump over a wall. Ledwidge still had the machete in his hand and only dropped it after gardaí caught up with him.
Garda McLoughlan said Ledwidge resisted arrest and continued to struggle even at this stage and more gardaí were summoned before he was finally taken to the Finglas station.
Judge Yvonne Murphy noted that Ledwidge had a difficult childhood, with a family and personal history of alcohol abuse.