A 23-year-old man whose aggression after being cut with a blade led to an altercation, was fined €400 and given a stern warning that next time he might not be so lucky.
At Galway District Court this week Judge Mary Fahy warned Patrick Murray of 3 Cnoc Na Cille, Ballybane, to be more careful in future before she imposed the fine. She also expressed concern for Murray’s cousin and co-accused Declan Noone (25 ) of 106 Ballinfoyle Park, Headford Road, who had to be arrested for his own safety.
Inspector Sean Glynn told the court that gardai spotted a number of males involved in an altercation in Eglinton Street on May 2, 2010. They found Murray in the thick of it and directed him to leave the area but he refused to do so. Murray then became increasingly abusive towards people in the vicinity and started shouting abuse at Garda Mark Kerrisk. The inspector added that as Murray was again instructed to leave the area another altercation was about to erupt and gardai found it necessary to arrest him. He was later charged with threatening and abusive behaviour.
The court then heard that Murray has previous convictions which include possession of drugs, possession of drugs with intent to sell or supply, obstruction, and other public order offences.
Inspector Glynn then explained that Noone had been in an “extremely intoxicated” state but that there was no evidence of him actually fighting, however gardai had to arrest him for his own safety. Noone, who has previous convictions for public order offences, was charged for being intoxicated in a public place.
Defence solicitor Valerie Corcoran said that Noone had been in Supermac’s when he heard that his cousin had been assaulted. She said that her client had been attending a family birthday party earlier that evening.
Ms Corcoran further explained that Murray had received a “cut from a blade” and had been abusive by the time gardai arrived and was not able to properly explain what happened. Ms Corcoran added that Murray who is a talented footballer has been trying to deal with his drug problems.
“He is sporting another black eye,” noted Judge Fahy, before warning that Murray needs to be careful in future. Murray was then convicted and fined €400 with three months to pay while Noone was convicted and fined €200 with three months to pay.
