A man charged with being so drunk as to be a danger to himself after he was found asleep with his legs in the road was a recipient of court mercy this week (June 3 ) by bringing a smile to the judge's face during a lecture about the dangers of alcohol by admitting he was a barman.
Before Judge John Neilan was Ciaran MacCuirc (23 ) of Retreat Park, Athlone who had been found asleep on Church Street by gardai at 2.35am on May 9 and arrested for his own safety.
“He was unable to stand up and saw no problem being asleep in the street,” said Inspector Jarlath Folan.
Admitting he was not from the town and defending himself, MacCuirc told the court: “The only possible thing I can say is I was drunk”.
He also told the court he had been attending the Q nightclub on the night in question.
“Licencees aren't supposed to serve alcohol to drunken people,” declared Judge Neilan.
“Was it the air around Athlone that got you drunk?” he asked and MacCuirc said it was.
“Well, if we get that message out to Australia and the Americans we'd have no problems with tourism in Ireland,” chuckled the judge.
“What do you do?” asked the judge, as a precursor to setting a possible fine.
“I'm a barman at the Prince [of Wales Hotel],” said a very contrite looking MacCuirc, to the great amusement of the court.
Composing himself, Judge Neilan gave MacCuirc the benefit of the Probation Act, suggesting the young man's name didn't deserve the stain of conviction and the consequent problems that might accrue with his employers.
He did, however, feel it necessary to give MacCuirc another warning.
“What if you'd've been run over by a car?” asked the judge.
“If you persist in drinking like you did on May 9, you're going to lose a lot more than your employment if you get run over by a car.”
