A man charged with assaulting two Gardai at the Public Services Centre in Letterkenny has claimed: “They attacked me first”.
Adbou Abouzid was charged with three further offences in relation to the incident on April 23, 2026 and appeared before Letterkenny District Court.
The 36-year-old Abouzid was charged with assaulting Garda Lee Scanlon and causing him harm and with assaulting Garda Daniel Murphy and causing him harm.
The charges are contrary to section 3 (1) and 3 (2) of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 as amended by section 20 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023.
He is also charged with breaking a Sepura radio earpiece belonging to An Garda Siochana. The charge is contrary to section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991.
Garda Pauline Doherty gave evidence of meeting Adouzid by arrangement for the purpose of charge.
When charged with the criminal damage matter, Adouzid made no reply. When charged with the assault of Garda Scanlon and causing him harm, the accused replied: “That happened in accident.”
When the charge of assaulting Garda Murphy and causing him harm was put to Abouzid, he responded: “That’s been an accident too. They attacked me first.”
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Garda Jim Collins told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed summary disposal in the District Court.
After reviewing evidence of the injuries sustained, Judge Emile Daly accepted jurisdiction.
The case was adjourned until September 7 when it will link up in a co-accused in the matter.
Abouzid, now with an address at Newberry Place, Edenderry, Co Offaly, was previously brought before a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court in April.
The injured Gardai were treated at Letterkenny University Hospital following the incident, which happened at around 3pm on April 23, 2026 at the Donegal County Council Public Services Centre.
Two people, Abouzid, and a woman – who was later granted station bail – were arrested at the scene and detained at Letterkenny Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
He was previously charged with assaulting Garda Lee Scanlon and with assaulting Garda Daniel Murphy, charges contrary to section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.
He is also charged with failing to comply with the direction given by a member of An Garda Siochana, contrary to section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 as amended by Section 22 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 2008.
He is also charged that did use or engage in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to produce a breach of the peace or being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace might have been occasioned. This charge is contrary to section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act , 1994, as amended by Section 22 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 2008.
The accused man’s passport had already been seized by Gardai and Abouzid was already ordered to sign on three times a week at Tullamore Garda Station.
A woman, aged in her 30s, was also arrested in connection with the same incident and will be before Letterkenny District Court on September 7.