A drug addict, described as his “own worst enemy”, has been jailed for two months for causing annoyance throughout the city and wasting garda time.
The 30-year-old man, who was charged with a plethora of offences which included urinating on a city centre shop front, was warned by Judge Mary Fahy that if he didn’t deal with his alcohol and drug addictions he would continually end up in court and perhaps prison.
Diarmuid Maloney with an address given as 39 Dun Na Mara, Renmore, appeared at Galway District Court last Monday charged with numerous public order offences which included being intoxicated in a public place and with threatening and abusive behavour on dates between May and July of this year. He was also found in possession of heroin at Galway Garda Station on July 17, 2009.
Inspector Mick Coppinger told the court that on May 26 at 10.15pm gardai recieived a call that an intoxicated man was urinating on the front of Logues Shop. On June 14 at 7.35pm the defendant was again causing trouble by wandering around Shop Street and “randomly bumping” into people. On July 20 at 11.50pm the defendant was causing annoyance at Shop Street by hassling people and looking for cigarettes.
Defence solictor Valerie Corcoran said that her client’s problems escalated when he stopped taking his medication. These problems were compounded by the fact that he is addicted to heroin. She then asked Judge Fahy to be as lenient as possible.
“We tried to deal with him for a long time on a non-custodial basis but he broke conditions all the time. He is also taking up a lot of garda time,” replied Judge Fahy.
“There’s never been any malice. He is his own worst enemy,” said Ms Corcoran.
Judge Fahy then said that the courts cannot be expected to source treatment for defendants. She then warned that if the defendant did not undergo treatment prison is exactly where he would end up.
Maloney was then convicted and sentenced to a total of two months, backdated to September 9. He was also fined €200 payable forthwith.
