A young man who assaulted a woman, was abusive, and caused damaged to bottles of perfume at Brown Thomas was told that he had used up the court’s patience and will go to jail next time if he persists in loitering and causing trouble in the city centre.
He was also ordered to stay away from Bank of Ireland branches at Eyre Square and Mainguard Street, and the bus station.
Seamus Hynes (25 ) with an address as Flat 1 28 Sandyview Drive, Riverside, was brought before Judge Mary Fahy at Galway District Court last Monday charged with the assault of Thersea Sheridan, threatening and abusive behaviour, and with criminal damage, namely one bottle of Chanel-damuse and one bottle of Coco Chanel valued €192, at Brown Thomas, Eglinton Street, on May 1, 2008.
Hynes was again charged with threatening and abusive behaviour at Brown Thomas on May 7, 2008, and at Eyre Square on May 9, 2008. There was also criminal damage to signage at Dunnes Stores, Edward Square, on July 8, 2008.
After reading a probation report Judge Fahy noted that the defendant was not co-operating. “You are not doing what you are told by these people who are trying to help you. If you continue not co-operating I’ll have no option but to send you to prison. I don’t want to do that,” Judge Fahy told the defendant.
Defence solicitor Adrian MacLynn told the court that the defendant’s favourite places to loiter were Brown Thomas, the bus station and the Bank of Ireland. He said that Hynes had numerous difficulties and that he cannot understand when directed not to attend those areas. Referring to a psychological report Mr MacLynn went onto explain that the defendant suffers from attention deficit disorder, has a “lack of empathy and appreciation for others” and “feels in his own mind he is not doing anything wrong”.
He said that Hynes, who has achondroplasia dwarfism, had been assessed by numerous specialists who “all agreed what the problem is” and that he has suffered “seizures from as early as eight years old” which have led to a speech impediment.
“This is his fifth time in court. He can’t avail of anymore of the court’s patience. If the report is not good next time I am going to impose a sentence,” Judge Fahy warned.
Hynes was then remanded on continuing bail to March 4, 2009, and was ordered to stay away from Brown Thomas, Bank of Ireland branches at Eyre Square and Mainguard Street, and the bus station.
