A man with 150 previous convictions over the last 27 years due to his alcoholism, told a judge “I want to die” and asked for the electric chair or gallows before being told they “had long been taken from the statute books”, in the District Court this week (September 9 ).
Before the court was Gerry Fallon (50 ), originally of Ardmullen, Kiltoom but now living with a friend in Grange, Curraghboy, Co Roscommon, who was facing three more charges of public drunkenness and one of criminal damage between the dates of August 22 and September 3.
The court heard the most serious of these was at 10.40pm on September 3, when Fallon was found drunk in the middle of the road outside the Grove pub in Baylough shining a torch into the eyes of oncoming motorists.
When arrested and taken into custody, he ripped up a fireproof mattress worth €200 in his cell.
Judge John Neilan asked Mr Paul Connellan, defending, if he’d like to hear Fallon’s previous convictions.
“No judge. Just the last one,” said Mr Connellan.
“He’s been dealing with the courts for over 25 years now. You’d be as familiar with him now as I would.”
He was told Fallon had a suspended sentence hanging over him from the Mullingar Circuit Court in July.
“There’s a common thread in all his arrests, judge, in that they’re ‘for his own safety’,” said Mr Connellan.
“There is a certain affection builds up between the bench and a defendant over years,” said the judge, noting it was Fallon’s 50th birthday last Saturday.
However, with the suspended sentence outstanding, the judge remanded Fallon in custody to re-appear before Judge Kennedy in the Circuit Court on December 8.
Bail was set at €300 of his own money and €1,500 independent surety, both to include one third cash, with leave given to appeal an earlier date in a different Circuit Court.
“Some day I’ll die on a bench,” said Fallon as he was led away.
“We’ll all have our day [to die],” said Judge Neilan.
“Maybe I’ll meet you there and you’ll be on the judgement bench.”
“I don’t want to meet you in heaven,” muttered Fallon as he was led away.
