Threatening behaviour

THE threatening behaviour of a customer at an Enniscorthy store was re-lived at the District Court.

Patrick Murphy (38) from 15 Gimont Avenue admitted threatening/ abusive behaviour at the Daybreak service station in Drumgoold.

However, he denied a charge alleging that he threatened to damage the car and property of shop worker Aaron Maher.

The man who was behind the counter in Daybreak on the evening of February 3 told the court how he was left scared by the unprovoked verbal attack.

He recalled that the customer who shouted at him appeared to be under the influence and said he was going to harm him (Maher).

Also present was a second member of staff Caoimhe Wall who said she had sold him eight cans earlier in the day.

CCTV of the incident was shown to Judge Gerard Haughton by investigating Garda David Cuthbert.

The footage showed Murphy walking up and down, pointing his finger at Aaron Maher.

However, there was no sound-track on the film to assist the court. The judge decided that there was insufficient evidence regarding the exact nature of the threats to support a conviction on the more serious charge.

However, he convicted Murphy of the threatening/abusive behaviour, fining him €200.