DRUNK BUSINESSMAN’S €16K DAMAGE TO HOTEL Dad of two ‘completely off his head’ during rampage
AN American businessman went “completely off his head” on drink at his hotel, assaulting two people and throwing a fire extinguisher from the fifth floor to the lobby.
Albert Santiago from Chicago was staying at the Clayton Hotel in Lapps Quay, Co Cork, on August 12 last year when he went on his drunken rampage and caused €16,000 worth of damage.
The dad of two damaged fire extinguishers, chairs, a wooden table, art work, including a glass panel and also attacked two people.
Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard the 54-year-old had been employed with a pharmaceutical company for 31 years and regularly travelled to Ireland for business.
He was known and respected at the hotel.
Santiago pleaded guilty to 16 counts which included damaging the revolving front door, fire stations, walls and the door to his room.
He was also charged with being threatening and abusive, two counts of assault and a charge of endangering others.
Santiago’s defence counsel, Ray Boland, said the behaviour was completely out of character and he had lost his job because of the incident. He said there was no suggestion of recreational drug use but his client was on prescription medication at the time.
Mr Boland said Santiago went “completely off his head” having arrived on a flight from the US.
The barrister stated he had a whiskey in his room before going out for drinks.
He recalled being assaulted in the city and hotel staff said he arrived on site injured and bleeding.
Mr Boland said his client was “in such a condition of rage” he began calling people the devil.
He was shocked when the CCTV footage of the incident was shown to him and expressed deep regret and remorse for his actions.
Santiago was set to take early retirement within five years but has now been left with little choice but to work as an independent contractor.
Mr Boland said the defendant co-operated fully with the Garda investigation and had returned to Ireland voluntarily.
Judge Sean O Donnabhain said the endangerment aspect of the case was “very serious”.
He agreed to adjourn sentencing until November 1 to allow for the raising of further compensation in the case.
Number of counts which the accused pleaded guilty to