A highly intoxicated individual who arrived into the public office of Mill Street Garda Station ended up being arrested for his troubles and appearing before Galway District Court on public order charges.
Judge Fiona Lydon was told that when John O’Loughlin (62 ) (no fixed abode ) arrived at the station, he was so drunk he was unable to speak and had to be arrested.
When charged later and asked if he had anything to say, he replied, “go raibh míle maith agat.”
O’Loughlin was also found at High Street drunk and unable to stand by himself, and was again arrested for his own safety.
He had 27 previous convictions, nine for similar public order offences.
His solicitor pleaded that “drink got the better of him” and he went to the Garda station to make an enquiry.
“Mr O’Loughlin, you can’t be gathering lots of public order convictions,” Judge Lydon told him before imposing a fine of €300 for the High Street incident and a further €400 for the Garda station incident.
“If these aren’t paid you could end up in prison,” the judge warned him.
This article is funded by Comisiún na Meán.
