A man who was described as a “nuisance but not a menace” because of his drunkenness on the city’s streets was back before Galway District Court again this week after serving a four-month sentence.
Judge Fiona Lydon once again admonished Philip Kalwile, of no fixed abode, for his behaviour and told him that he was to do his drinking in private in future. She asked him if he wanted to go back to prison, and the defendant was adamant he did not and assured her he understood and would behave in the future.
The judge suggested he might consult his GP with a view to being prescribed an anti-alcohol drug. Kalwile assured her he had a medical card and would do just that.
Adjourning the multiple public order charges before her until September 18, Judge Lydon ordered him to turn up sober in court on that date.
Kalwile has multiple convictions for public drunkenness around the city. His MO, one judge said, was to drink until he is “paralytic” and then to collapse on the road or pavement and go to sleep. He has over 70 similar convictions on his record.
Another judge dealing with him on similar charges told him Gardaí had better things to do than go around the city picking up drunks from the streets.
An earlier court heard that the defendant is originally from Malawi. He has been in this country for 12 years and was granted the right to reside here. His solicitor has described him as a chronic alcoholic.
