Bus Eireann has been praised by a Galway district judge for no longer tolerating the damage of its property and for prosecuting those who urinate in its buses.
A chronic alcoholic, with 84 previous convictions for public order offences, was yesterday sentenced to three months in prison for causing damage to a bus at Ceannt Station by urinating in it.
Thomas McCarthy (48 ) with an address given as Fairgreen Hostel, Galway, was brought before Judge Mary Fahy at Galway District Court charged with two counts of being intoxicated in a public place, failure to appear for a court date, and with criminal damage.
Inspector Ernie White told the court that on August 29, 2008, at 10.20am at Ceannt Station, Eyre Square, the Gardai were called by the manager. The defendant, who was found to be very drunk, had been told to get off a bus because he had been urinating in it. This caused the bus to be grounded and it had to be valeted, which cost Bus Eireann €35.
“It’s not the first time this has happened,” said the inspector who added that Bus Eireann now wants to prosecute for such offences because it happens so regularly.
Defence solicitor Valerie Corcoran said that her client had no recollection of doing the actual damage. She added that it “wasn’t physical damage”
Judge Fahy immediately pointed out that urinating is physical.
Ms Corcoran then agreed that “it is a disgusting act” but that her client, who has long-term alcoholic problems, did not consciously do it.
Judge Fahy replied that there was no excuse for this “absolutely disgusting” act no matter how much drink he had taken. She added that he should have been able to find a toilet and not urinate in a place where there are visitors from all over the world. She then said that this type of behaviour would not be tolerated in many other countries where you can “nearly eat off” the buses they are so clean.
“I’m sick of the lame excuses. There’s no reason why someone can’t go to the bathroom... Bus Eireann are correct in trying to do something about it. The defendant is just one of many,” said Judge Fahy.
Ms Corcoran replied that she can only apologise on behalf of her client who is a “very troubled man”. She said that he has been a long-term resident of Fairgreen Hostel and has lost many of his family due to his alcohol addiction.
For the criminal damage of Bus Eireann property Judge Fahy imposed a two month sentence. For failing to appear in court a further one month sentence to run consecutively was imposed. For being intoxicated at Ceannt Station and at Eyre Square the defendant was convicted and fined €100 on each, payable forthwith.
