A Kilkenny man was asked to apologise in court to Fianna Fail councillor John Coonan after a judge convicted him of threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour.
Martin Ryan of Marble Crest, Loughboy was also bound to keep the peace for 12 months for his behaviour towards Cllr John Coonan over a year ago while he was canvassing for the local elections at Dukes Meadows in the city.
Speaking this week, Cllr John Coonan, who is a retired psychiatric nurse said that he was relieved that the case was finally over as he had been ‘seriously stressed about the incident’. He also added that he was ‘glad that his good name had been vindicated’.
Giving evidence in court this week Mr Ryan said that he had said to Cllr Coonan that he had a few issues which he wanted to put to him. He refuted allegations that he had raised his voice and he said that he had asked Cllr Coonan what he was going to do about the mental health services as his own brother had died. He also admitted that he had used the word ‘lies’ but they were not related to Cllr Coonan personally but related to Fianna Fail party policies.
He added that he had put a few issues to a public representative in a public place and had done nothing wrong.
Cllr Coonan told the court that he had felt threatened by Mr Ryan’s remarks and behaviour and that he was being personally accused of neglect and of being negligent during his professional life.
The judge told Mr Ryan that if he was a gentleman that he would apologise in the court to Cllr Coonan.
Mr Ryan said, “John, I’m sorry if you took me up wrong on that day, I apologise.”
