By Ronan Judge

GARDAÍ were forced to run for cover after a man who was “out of his head” on drugs and armed with a samurai sword directed an ignited firework at them from a house in Knocknacarra, a court has heard.

Jason Coppinger (32) spent all day consuming cocaine and cannabis when he fired the firework from an upstairs bedroom at his then address at Gort Na mBró, Millars. Lane, on March 21, 2023, before fleeing the scene, Galway Circuit Court heard.

Imposing a two-and-a-half year prison sentence, Judge Brian O’Callaghan said the facts of the case “are nothing short of shocking”.

Sergeant Brian O’Loughlin told the court that at around 9.30pm Gardaí received a number of reports from neighbours and the accused’s partner about a domestic disturbance at the address.

Local Garda units and armed members attended the scene where Jason Coppinger was using two samurai swords to cause damage to a room in the property.

His partner was forced to flee the house with a four-year-old child, the court was told.

Sgt O’Loughlin said the accused then released two pit-bull dogs at Gardaí before launching from an upstairs window, a firework that narrowly missed Gardaí and forced them to take cover been bushes and vehicles.

Jason Coppinger fled the scene and hid out at a nearby Dunnes Stores before later returning to the house and getting into an altercation with his partner’s father and uncle.

Gardaí also attended the scene and Coppinger was arrested, detained and when deemed fit to be interviewed, made full admissions.

He told Gardaí he had spent the day taking cocaine and weed and the court heard he was “out of his head”.

Sgt O’Loughlin said 10 Gardaí attended the incident and he agreed with defence barrister, Paul J Carroll SC, that it was “by the grace of God” no one was injured.

Jason Coppinger pleaded guilty to the production of articles during the course of a dispute, contrary to section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.

He also admitted directing an ignited firework at Gardaí, contrary to section 80 of the Explosives Act.

He has 27 convictions including for assault, public order and criminal damage offences.

Mr Carroll told the court his client had addiction issues from an early age and had made several attempts including residential treatment to address them.

He said Coppinger cooperated with Gardai, offered a full apology and admitted he was not “in his right frame of mind” when this “lunacy” occurred on the day.

Counsel said his client had also previously been assessed by a consultant psychologist who found he was affected by a a personality disorder rather than an enduring mental illness.

Judge O’Callaghan said these were “horrendous” offences committed in the context of Gardai responding to a domestic incident.

He said the court noted that after the firework incident, Coppinger fled the scene, returned, further putting his partner in fear before resisting arrest.

The mitigating factors included the accused’s age, guilty plea, remorse and history of employment and work ethic.

Judge O’Callaghan imposed two concurrent, three year prison sentences, with the final six months suspended.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.