Andrew Carey

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A HOMELESS Limerick man who said he would only deal with armed detectives told uniformed Gardaí that he would do a “Conor McGregor” on them as he “strongly resisted arrest”.

Appealing the severity of a nine month prison sentence imposed for breaching a barring order and obstructing a peace officer, Shane Rainbow (25) with an address at McGarry House in Limerick, had to be “incapacitated with pepper spray” by Gardaí during an incident at a house on the northside of the city last year.

Gardaí arrived to an incident at the Limerick housing estate on February 11 when Mr Rainbow was said to be intoxicated and extremely aggressive.

He told uniformed Gardaí that he would only dealt with detectives, before threatening to “do a Conor McGregor on ye”, State solicitor Michael Murray told to the court.

Released on bail after his arrest and charge, Mr Rainbow subsequently failed to turn up for court dates before eventually being arrested and convicted last September when he was imprisoned for nine months.

Appealing the severity of the sentence, defence counsel Aaron Desmond BL said his client was homeless at the time and “simply had nowhere else to go”.

“He found himself at the wrong address and he was not in the correct state of mind”.

He had serious drug addiction issues but had since made positive steps to address his addictions and settle his life.

However this was rejected by State solicitor Michael Murray who said that “whether he’s incarcerated or free, Mr Rainbow chooses to abuse drugs”.

Judge Tom O’Donnell said he would adjourn the case for three months to see if Mr Rainbow “could get a hold of his chaotic and unpredictable lifestyle”.

“He has to remember that, no matter who or what he says he will do, the nine-month prison sentence is out there still”, he added.

Shane Rainbow was ordered to engage with the Probation Services for the next three months and Judge O’Donnell gave the State liberty to reenter the matter at any stage.