A Portumna man with anxiety issues was described by his solicitor as a Jekyll & Hyde character when he took a drink when he appeared before Galway District Court.
Judge Liz Healy told Thomas Ward of Portumna halting site that Garda and ambulance crews had difficult enough jobs to do without the likes of him abusing them in the course of their duties.
Ward was charged with a number of public order offences. Gardaí found him drunk and shouting at people at Ceannt Station on September 23, and he was arrested for his own safety.
On September 19 at Eyre Square, he was again drunk and abused an ambulance crew who were trying to help him. Gardaí again arrested him for his own safety.
On June 6 last, he was again drunk at the Spanish Arch and was arrested after abusing Gardaí. He had 18 previous convictions, 12 for public order offences.
Michael Cunningham, solicitor (defending ), said his client was 57 and sometimes liked to visit friends in the city. He suffered from anxiety, and this was compounded by alcohol. His client had no issues with Gardaí, apologised for his behaviour and appreciated that they had come to his assistance.
The defence described Ward as a Jekyll & Hyde character when alcohol was involved. He was in custody because he couldn’t meet €200 bail and this spoke for itself, Mr Cunningham added. His client agreed he would return to see his GP.
Judge Healy said it was upsetting the way Ward had abused Gardaí and ambulance crews who had a hard enough job to do. She imposed a fine of €500 or five days prison in lieu.
