Twenty-eight days for coughing at garda

A young Cavan man has been jailed for 28 days after he admitted to coughing at a member of An Garda Síochána while in custody.
Craig Donegan (21) was arrested following a public order incident in the village of Ballinagh in the early hours of Sunday morning last, April 12.
The defendant was arrested alongside his brother Jason Donegan (19).
Both men appeared before Judge Denis McLoughlin at a sitting of Cavan District Court this morning (Thursday), April 16.
Craig Donegan, with an address at Shangarry, Ballinagh, pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour at Cortruce, Ballinagh. He also admitted assaulting a peace officer at Cavan Garda Station by coughing at them through a cell door.
Sergeant Damian Martin told the court that the garda in question was left in a state of “distress” following the incident.
Craig Donegan, who has four previous convictions, addressed the court to apologise for his actions.
Considering sentencing, Judge McLoughlin told the court that he considered the offence particularly serious given current circumstances.
He said he considered the act of coughing as a “threat” and sentenced Craig Donegan to 28 days' imprisonment, back dated to when he was first taken into custody.
The defendant's sibling Jason Donegan, also with an address at Shangarry, was arrested arising from the same set of public order incidents.
He pleaded guilty before the court to a sole court of threatening and abusive behaviour at Cortruce, Ballinagh, and convicted and fined €200 and given four months to pay.
A third man also arrested last Sunday, aged in his 40s, was released with an adult caution.