Sentence not extended

A 19-year-old man who was lying in the middle of the road has had a public order charge struck out after making a €100 donation to St Vincent de Paul.

Orion McAlinden, 71 Slieve Foy Park, Muirhevnamór, admitted being intoxicated in a public place at Willowdale, Bay Estate, on 28 May last.

Garda Shauna Kerr said she found the defendant lying in the middle of the road. There was a smell of drink from him and his speech was slurred. She dropped him home.

There are no previous convictions. Solicitor Niall Breen said McAlinden had too much to drink at a house party and was sleeping on the road.

He is re-engaging with education and trying to get his life back together.

Legal aid was granted.

A motorist presently serving an 18-month sentence for a separate matter, has not had his stay in prison extended after pleading guilty to driving without insurance.

Gerard McQuillan (31), of no fixed abode, Raheny, Dublin 5, has a release date of 25 January, 2020.

Judge Cheatle sentenced him to six months for this offence which occurred at Applegreen service station, M1 Northbound, on 14 December last.

Evidence was given that at 1.05am gardaí saw the accused slumped in the driver’s seat of a silver Ford Mondeo.

They knocked on the window to wake him up. McQuillan gave a false name.

Sgt Fintan McGroder said there are 61 previous convictions, six of which, since 2012, are for no insurance.

Barrister Irene Sands said her client has an appalling record for road traffic offences.

He had only woken up and thought the guards were asking him who owned the car.

McQuillan is eager his 18-month sentence, for a culmination of similar offences, is not prolonged.

He has a partner and three children.

In addition to the six-month sentence, the judge fined him €500 and imposed a six-year disqualification.

The false name charge was taken into consideration.