Man fined for unprovoked attack at Spanish Arch

By Martina Nee

A 32-year-old Clare man who without any reason violently attacked a man at Spanish Arch was fined €300 at Galway District Court this week.

Darragh Curley with an address at Waterdale, Ballybroughan, Cratloe, Co Clare, was summoned to court in relation to the charge of threatening and abusive behaviour and being intoxicated in a public place.

Inspector Mick Coppinger told the court that on May 27, 2012, the defendant had been in the Spanish Arch area of the city in a “highly intoxicated” state and “for no reason started an altercation with a foreigner”. The inspector added that during the incident a number of punches were thrown by Curley and at 8.05pm he left the area in the direction of High Street. The injured party pointed out the defendant to the gardai who then arrested him.

Defence solicitor John Martyn explained that his client, who has no previous convictions, had been working in a warehouse Limerick but lost the job three years ago. Mr Martyn added that Curley had developed a drink problem during his time of unemployment.

Judge Mary Fahy convicted Curley and fined him €300 with three months to pay for the threatening and abusive behaviour charge while the remaining charge was taken into account.