€500 fine for man with series of public order offences

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Written by Administrator

Wednesday, 17 January 2007

A 25-year-old Galway City man who pleaded guilty to public order offences was fined a total of €500 at Galway District Court this week.

John Ward, with an address at 4 Saint Finbarr's Terrace, Bohermore, was fined €300 for failing to comply with a direction of Garda David Foley at The Central Bar, Galway Shopping Centre, on 9 December 2006. He was fined a further €200 for using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace, at Foster Court, Galway, on 17 April 2005. The following charges were taken into consideration: being intoxicated on the same occasion, being intoxicated at College Road, Galway on 25 November 2006 and being intoxicated at The Central Bar, Galway Shopping Centre on 9 December 2006.

The Court heard that on 17 April 2005, Gardaí found the defendant in a very drunken state at Foster Court. He was abusing people on the street. On 25 November 2006, the defendant was extremely drunk and a danger to himself at the Greyhound Stadium. Meanwhile, Gardaí found the defendant in a very drunken state at Galway Shopping Centre on 9 December 2006. He was directed to leave the area and failed to do so.

Mr Noel Rhattigan, solicitor, said his client who works with his father, accepted that he was very drunk in April 2005. Recalling the incident that occurred in November, he said his client had been on his way home and had too much to drink. He had been in court on a previous occasion, but left before his case was called and a bench warrant was issued.

Regarding the incident at The Central Bar in December 2006, Mr Rhattigan said Mr Ward had left when asked to do so by Gardaí. The defendant was standing outside waiting for his friends to exit, when he was arrested. Mr Rhattigan said that Mr Ward understands that his drinking and his attitude when drinking lands him in trouble.

The Court heard that the defendant had previous convictions. Judge Mary Fahy told Mr Ward that if he continued drinking, he could end up in custody.

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