Anti-vaxxer jailed for assaulting Garda had been investigated over death of Covid patient

This week, Judge Francis Comerford imposed the 32-month prison term on businessman, Mr Murredu for the assault on Sgt James Hanley at the slip way on exit 13 at Knockanean, Ennis off the M18 Limerick to Galway motorway on August 10, 2021.

However, we can reveal that in May 2022, gardaí confirmed a file had been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in relation to the Italian’s role in Joe McCarron’s departure from hospital while gravely ill the previous year.

The 67-year-old Covid-sceptic patient returned to Letterkenny University Hospital two days later, but subsequently died.

In a video that later went viral, Mr Mureddu (now 47) is seen encouraging Covid-sceptic Mr McCarron to leave hospital, despite a doctor saying he could die.

In the video of the incident on September 14, 2021, Mr Mureddu can be heard telling Mr McCarron: “Put your trousers on, we are going now, you are safe, you follow me.”

A staff member tells the patient he has the right to decide what he wants to do, but adds: “You are barely able to breathe there now. We want you to stay and help you.”

“No, Joe, they’re going to f***ing kill you, Joe,” Mr Mureddu says before telling the staff member: “Because you are killing people.”

The medic then tells Mr McCarron: “I’m very worried about you and I want you to stay. I think he is saying something very dangerous. What he is saying is very wrong and very dangerous, and I think he is endangering your life.

“It is a very difficult disease that you have and I’m not lying to you, you could die. This will be your best chance in the hospital and getting the support we are giving to you.”

Mureddu then intervenes and accuses hospital staff of “lying” and says: “We go.”

The staff member then tells him: “Think about this. You are endangering his life.”

Two days later, Mr McCarron, a former failed election candidate with Direct Democracy Ireland, was readmitted to hospital. He was placed on a ventilator, but his condition deteriorated.

Mr Mureddu was arrested on February 7 and questioned by gardaí in Donegal about the incident, ahead of the force completing and sending its file to the DPP.

Among the issues examined was whether the patient was forced or coerced to leave hospital, and a criminal charge of endangerment, it is understood.

Charges of trespass and whether hospital staff were threatened were also considered.

However, the state prosecutor later advised that no criminal charges be laid.

Mureddu appeared before Letterkenny District Court in late February on road traffic charges of having no insurance, using a fraudulent licence plate and failing to give information to gardaí at Meencarragh, Ballybofey, last October 23.

Judge Raymond Finnegan asked if he had a solicitor and he replied that he had no legal representative.

He told Judge Finnegan: “I don’t give jurisdiction to this court. I can represent myself.”

When Judge Finnegan again strongly recommended that he get legal representation, Mureddu replied: “Absolutely not. I don’t give any consent. I am the king and you are the public servant.”

This week, a court heard that the assault on the Garda took place at around 6.30pm after a high speed car chase on the M18 near Ennis where Sgt Hanley clocked Mr Mureddu’s red Alfa Romeo going at a speed of 174km at Crusheen heading south towards Limerick

One eye witness described Mr Mureddu’s car travelling “like a bullet” and in pursuit, Sgt Hanley’s Garda patrol car reached a speed of 204kmph.

In evidence, Sgt Mark Murphy said that Mr Mureddu Alfa Romeo braked suddenly a number of times and after exiting the motorway stopped his car on the Knockanean slipway.

Sgt Hanley – who was by himself on patrol – got out of his Garda car and pushed at Mr Murredu as the Italian national walked towards him.

Sgt Murphy said that Sgt Hanley did this for his own personal safety and counsel for Mr Murredu, Patrick Barriscale BL (instructed by solicitor, Colum Doherty) said that his client then over-reacted when putting Sgt Hanley to the ground and placing him in a choke-hold.

Mr Barriscale said that Mr Murredu did this as he was concerned for his own safety.

Mr Mureddu had prior to the assault only two previous convictions for motoring offences.

Mr Barriscale told the court that the Italian national came to Ireland in 2006 and has operated restaurants at Tuam, Limerick and most recently Headford in Co Galway.

Mr Barriscale said that at Garda interview after the assault, he expressed regret for his actions and said that he wanted to apologise to Sgt Hanley.

Along with pleading guilty to the assault charge on Sgt Hanley, Mr Mureddu also pleaded guilty to a dangerous driving charge and Judge Comerford imposed a three year driving ban for that offence.

In court, Sgt Hanley in his victim impact statement stated: “I genuinely believe that the defendant sought to take my life on August 10th 2021 – or at the very least cause me serious harm.”

He said: “He did not succeed thanks to the actions of the Good Samaritans who came to my aid. I wish to express my gratitude and appreciation to them.”

Sgt Hanley was off work for 233 days as a result of injuries sustained in the assault and he told the court “the impact of the defendant’s actions in assaulting me cannot be overstated, both professionally and personally”.

Dramatic Garda dash cam footage shown to the court showed Mr Mureddu sweeping Sgt Hanley with a leg movement to the ground on the slip way and putting him in a choke hold where Sgt Hanley was losing consciousness.

Sgt Hanley tried to access the emergency channel on his Tetra radio to call for Garda assistance but was prevented from doing so by Mr Mureddu who took possession of it and placed it out of reach.

The footage shows six other motorists – three men and three women – come to the aid of Sgt Hanley and Judge Comerford said that the motorists effectively apprehended Mr Mureddu until other Gardai arrived.

Judge Comerford said that the intervention of the passers-by underlines the respect the community has for Gardai.

Sgt Mark Murphy said that one witness believed that Sgt Hanley was suffering a heart attack as he was breathless on the ground and losing consciousness.

Another said that Sgt Hanley was distressed with blood on his face and hands. A private LifeLine ambulance came upon the scene and brought Sgt Hanley to University Hospital Limerick for treatment. The ‘Good Samaritans’ put Sgt Hanley into the recovery position until assistance arrived.

Judge Comerford backdated Mr Mureddu’s prison term to March 12th when he was initially brought into custody.