TUBBERCURRY COURT ROUND-UP

From our reporter at Tubbercurry District Court

Construction worker verbally abused gardaí

A 34-year-old construction worker was fined a total of €1,100 at Tubbercurry District Court for public order offences.

Declan Lawrence (34), of Loughill, Lavagh, Ballymote, Co. Sligo, was charged with intoxication in a public place and engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at Wolfe Tone Square, Tubbercurry, on May 14, 2022.

The court heard how gardaí responded to a call from a member of the public on the day in question. The man ran across the road onto Wolfe Tone Square in an irate manner and was verbally abusive towards gardaí, roaring in a loud voice and shouting profanities at them.

He proceeded to get extremely aggressive towards Garda John J Walsh, resisted arrest and had to be restrained due to his aggression. He was subsequently brought to Sligo Garda Station. The court also heard he had two previous convictions, both for public order offences and the most recent of which was at Sligo District Court in 2019.

Defence solicitor, John Anderson, said his client had sent two letters of apology to Sgt Walsh. He was a young man, a 34-year-old who worked in construction and had returned home for his sister’s wedding.

In relation to the intoxication in a public place offence, Judge Vincent Deane convicted him imposing a fine of €400 with six months to pay. And on the public order offence, he imposed a fine of €700 with six months to pay.

Mayo man “woke up on the wrong side of the bed”

A father of seven living on the side of the road with no running water, toilets or electricity who became aggressive towards a housing officer, publicly apologised to the man in court and explained he “woke up on the wrong side of the bed” on the day.

Patrick Maughan (31), of Laveymore, Charlestown, Co. Mayo appeared before Tubbercurry District Court charged with intoxication in a public place and engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at Laveymore on February 28, 2021.

The court heard that gardaí at Charlestown garda station received a call from the traveller housing accommodation officer, Mr Smith, at midday to say he was handing out fire alarms and carbon monoxide packs at a site when the defendant became aggressive towards him. Gardaí offered to help him with distributing the items at the site.

The defendant had approached the housing officer telling him to “get the **** out of here.”

The aggression continued at the scene and he called the housing officer a “useless bastard” referencing a previous incident between the two men that year.

The defendant also issued a threat, saying: “I’ll go to jail for you if I get hold of you.” Family members tried to help calm him down. Gardaí, believing the man was distressed and in danger of the matter escalating, took him out of the site.

The defendant testified from the witness box he was a father of seven children living on the side of the road with no running water, toilets, or electricity.

When asked about the evidence he used very bad language towards Mr Smith, he said he appreciated the man worked with the county council and was trying to do a good thing by coming out with alarms and bits and pieces.

He was sorry to him, Garda Karen Weymouth and the court. He explained he knew the accommodation officer between 10 and 15 years and had asked him for help. He said he “woke up on the wrong side of the bed” on the day in question. When Sergeant Butler asked Mr Maughan did he think it was right to treat the man like that he replied he respected him.

Judge Vincent Deane inquired why he shouldn’t sentence him, and he said his wife and children needed him and assured the judge it would never happen again.

Defending solicitor, Tom MacSharry, said his client had tendered an apology on the occasion and again to Garda Weymouth. He acknowledged he was out of order and Mr Smith was doing a job as was the garda.

There was clearly a prior situation with the accommodation officer, and he had made up his differences with him but it didn’t excuse how he treated the garda.

The court heard he had 23 previous convictions – the majority of which were for public order.

Mr MacSharry said there were two charges before the court but less evidence on the intoxication in a public place charge.

On the public order charge, Judge Deane sentenced him to two months in prison, suspending it for a period of 24 months, and imposed a €100 fine with six months to pay. He took the intoxication charge into consideration.

A further charge of speeding was adjourned until April 26, 2023.

Took “a chance” on the night and got caught

A father of four who took a chance on drunk driving was put off the road for two years, at Tubbercurry District Court.

Francis Queenan (44), of Tullavilla, Cloonacool, Co. Sligo, was charged with exceeding the drink driving limit at Carrentubber, Tubbercurry, on June 14, 2022. The court heard he tested positive for 22 mgs alcohol per 100mls breath.

Defending solicitor Morgan Coleman entered a guilty plea on behalf of his client saying on the night in question his client took a chance and got caught. He had been unable to get a lift home on the night in question. He was now paying the cost and knew he would lose his job.

He was a 44-year-old father of four children and a professional driver by trade. Judge Vincent Deane, noting his job prospects were affected, convicted the defendant, imposing a two-year disqualification on his licence and imposing a fine of €200 with six months to pay.