Stay off O’Connell St
Judge bans men from Dublin city centre over intimidating behaviour
TWO men have been banned f rom O’Connell Street in Dublin’s city centre – and failure to comply with the order will likely lead to jail time and a €3,000 fine.
Anti- social behaviour orders have been imposed on Wayne Donnelly and Paul Brazil after a judge heard evidence that they were suspected of involvement in drug transactions and that their presence around the O’Connell Street area frightened members of the public.
Garda Superintendent Seán Ward, of Store Street Garda Station, succeeded in getting the orders imposed on the Dubliners: Donnelly, 27, from Riverdale Park, Palmerstown and Paul Brazil, 33, of Carnew Street in Stoneybatter. Following a hearing at Dublin District Court yesterday, Judge John O’Neill agreed to grant the ASBOs and specified that neither of the men is allowed to enter O’Connell Street or i ts surrounding areas i n Dublin 1 between the hours of 7am and 9pm for the next 12 months.
Failure to abide by these terms may lead to a criminal prosecution, a three-month jail term and a fine of up to €3,000.
The court action had been brought after gardaí patrolling the city centre repeatedly issued both men with behaviour warnings.
Gda Sgt Adrian Kinsella told the court that on the morning of February 7 last year, Donnelly had been huddled with five other people at Lower Abbey Street and passers-by had been giving the group a ‘wide berth’ and ‘crossing the road to avoid this group’.
At the time Gda Sgt Kinsella told Donnelly to desist loitering in a manner likely to intimidate.
On July 22 last, at about 4pm, Sgt Kinsella spotted Donnelly outside a shop at O’Connell Street. ‘ People were making it their business to avoid the group,’ said Sgt Kinsella.
Garda Daniel Beckett told the court that on June 4 last year, he saw Donnelly loitering on O’Connell Street ‘involved in what appeared to be a suspected drugs transaction’.
On other occasions, Donnelly’s behaviour was intimidating and suspicious, the court heard, but he was never found in possession of drugs.
Donnelly did not give evidence at the hearing yesterday.
Three gardaí gave evidenced of the alleged anti-social and intimidating behaviour of unemployed father-ofthree Paul Brazil. Again gardaí detailed intimidating behaviour and the appearance of being involved in drug transactions. On one occasion, Gda Richard Markey said, Brazil told him that he was in the area to buy methadone, but in his evidence Brazil denied this. Brazil also said that he needed to go through the O’Connell Street area to collect his benefits and to visit his son.