Ballina District Court on Tuesday heard that a 27-year-old man who was found in possession of cocaine said he bought the drug in a pub in Ballina.
On October 28 2012 at 11.25pm, gardaí were called to a Chinese restaurant on Lord Edward Street as there was a disturbance involving Lee Browne, 13 St Patrick’s Estate, Ballina.
The manager of the restaurant refused to serve Browne and asked him to leave as Browne was drunk and had a nasty tone.
Browne was abusive to gardaí when they arrived. He was arrested and searched and €13 worth of cocaine was found in his possession.
The defendant has no previous convictions.
Judge Mary Devins asked if Browne had been helpful to gardaí as to where he purchased the drug. His solicitor John Gordon said that Browne told gardaí that he was in three or four pubs that night and bought it from a man in one of the pubs.
Judge Devins convicted and fined him €100.
