A drunk who told a garda he would still be in his “sh**ty job in 20 years time” after being arrested for trying to evade a taxi fare, left the District Court €250 poorer this week (July 20 ).
Garda Brian Keane gave evidence that, as member in charge on the night in question, he had been called by a taxi driver who reported a passenger was refusing to pay an €8 fare at around 3.30am on the morning of June 10.
The taxi driver drove around to the garda station, and Garda Keane arrested Martin Mulvihill (23 ) of Cornamagh, Athlone.
“I’ve no intention of paying that bo***x,” Mulvihill replied to Garda Keane when arrested.
“I don’t care. I’ll be out of this country working, and you’ll still be here in your sh**ty job in 20 years time,” he continued.
Mulvihill, a barman by profession, appeared in court from custody as he had missed his last scheduled court appearance, but did not offer any reason as to why.
“So you serve people alcohol? You know how they get and this is how you behave?” asked Judge Seamus Hughes.
With just one previous conviction for drink driving, Judge Hughes ordered Mulvihill pay €125 to the taxi driver, and the same amount to the court poor box. When the defendant returned early in the afternoon with the €250, Judge Hughes gave him the benefit of the Probation Act.
