A Galway man, with a large number of previous convictions, has been ordered to behave himself after losing his patience in a shop queue and abusing staff while out on temporary release.
The warning was given by Judge Mary Fahy at Galway District Court last Monday after giving Lawrence Ward one further chance by imposing a two month sentence, suspended for two months on condition that he enter a bond of €300 to be of good behaviour, an order which includes refraining from abusive behaviour at Dunnes Stores and other shops.
Inspector Sean Glynn told the court that Ward (51 ) with an address at Bay 2, Rahoon Halting Site, Circular Road, had been at Dunnes Stores, Edward Square, on February 4 last where he began abusing staff. At around 2.30pm gardai responded to reports of a male acting in a threatening manner to staff. Ward had been attempting to purchase alcohol when he became abusive to staff and was asked to leave. However, he refused to do so and was arrested by gardai for his own safety.
Defence solicitor Valerie Corcoran said that her client had just been at the end of his temporary release from prison when the incident occurred. She said that the defendant, who has a “huge number” of previous convicitions, would be willing to obey an exclusion order from all Dunnes Stores. She then asked Judge Fahy to consider anything but a custodial sentence.
“He went to purchase the items but because of drink he lost his patience in the queue,” she explained.
Inspector Glynn then explained that the defendant had previous convictions which included a six month sentence for public order offences in February 2009.
Judge Fahy convicted Ward and imposed a two month prison senstence suspended for six months on condition that he enter his own bond of €300 to be of good behaviour. He was also fined €100.
