A Clare man who described himself as being “like a demon” when drinking and who had to be held down by A&E staff while they desperately tried to treat him was sentenced to three months in jail.
John Higgins (29 ) with an address at 93 Clancy Park, Ennis, Co Clare, appeared at Galway District Court last Monday charged with threatening and abusive behaviour and failing to give his name and address at Ceannt Station and with being intoxicated in a public place and threatening and abusive behaviour at A&E, UHG, on December 17, 2009.
Inspector Pat McHugh told the court that at Ceannt Station the defendant was found to be highly intoxicated and an ambulance had to be called as it was clear he had a “serious injury” to his leg.
The inspector then added that at A&E Higgins had to be “held down” in order to be treated by hospital staff. Later that same day, at 8.30pm, gardai received reports of a male threatening security staff at Ceannt Station. When gardai arrived he became abusive to them and was very uncooperative.
Defence solciitor Adrian MacLynn said that his client, who had once worked in the building trade, described himself as “like a demon” when he takes drink.
“It’s [the behaviour] totally unreasonable... he had to be held down by staff in A&E,” said Judge Mary Fahy before convicting and sentencing Higgins to three months in jail for the two counts of threatening and abusive behaviour. She then imposed a three month sentence suspended for 12 months for failing to give his name and address and a fine of €200 payable forthwith for being intoxicated in a public place.
