“You can’t be behaving like that in public. Do it in your own home if you want,” was the admonishment issued to a 56-year-old Loughrea man when he appeared before the local court on public order charges.
Judge James Faughnan heard that David Kinnerney, 10 Old Galway Road, Loughrea, was found drunk at Barrack Street in the town on April 9 last.
When Gardaí arrived on the scene, the defendant was staggering and shouting abuse at members of the public. There were empty containers around him.
The court heard Kinnerney had 46 previous convictions, including two for being drunk in public, two for assault and one last year for a drugs offence.
Kinnerney attempted to address the court, saying he wanted to explain his circumstances, but Judge Faughnan told him he had a solicitor to do that.
Gearóid Geraghty, solicitor (defending ), said his client was 56 and had certain medical conditions to deal with. His client, Mr Geraghty said, wished to apologise for his behaviour.
Judge Faughnan told the defendant that he was being convicted of being intoxicated in a public place, and he couldn’t go around behaving like that in public, suggesting he do so at home if he needed to.
Imposing a three-month prison sentence, which was suspended for two years, the judge warned him that if he came back before him during that two-year period, he would be going to prison.
