A Fermanagh man celebrating a stag night attempted to get behind the wheel of a taxi by pulling at the driver’s jumper in an effort to get him out of the vehicle, the Galway District Court heard last Monday.
Ryan Law pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in a public place, and threatening and abusive behaviour at Middle Street on February 21, 2009. The charges against the 27-year-old were later struck out after €300 which had already been lodged was given to the court poor box. Law, with an address at 36 Cravenish Road, Kesh, Fermanagh, had already paid €500 in compensation to the taxi driver.
Inspector Pat McHugh said that at 7.30pm gardai arrived at Middle Street where they found the defendant lying on the ground. The taxi driver told them that he had picked up two passengers. Law then jumped out of the vehicle and insisted he wanted to drive. He kept trying to pull the driver’s jumper, trying to get him out of the vehicle. The defendant’s friend also tried to pull the sign off the car. He ran away when gardai arrived. Inspector McHugh said that the driver wasn’t punched by the defendant but was pulled.
Defence solicitor Adrian MacLynn said that his client had been down in Galway for a stag party. He said that Law comes from a very good background, has achieved a lot, and is currently doing research.
Inspector McHugh said that Law has no previous convictions and that there had been no damage to the taxi.
The defendant said that his parents were surprised at his behaviour on the night. He said he had been part of a group of 12 who came down from Fermanagh for the stag party and that he had been drinking all day.
Judge Mary Fahy warned that a conviction could affect the defendant’s chances of lecturing some day and wished that young people would think how these actions jeopardise future careers.
