A 32-year-old man, who when intoxicated lay on the railway tracks at the train station in Castlebar, was before Castlebar District Court this week for a section two assault on a garda and for a public order charge.
On New Year’s Day at 5.30pm, gardaí were called to the station by the station master after he discovered John Coleman, Apartment 1, Chambers Court, Cavendish Lane, Castlebar, unconscious on the railway line — a train was about to arrive into the station.
When gardaí arrived, Coleman was aggressive towards them, told them to “f**k off”, and pulled and pushed the two gardaí. The defendant resisted arrest and when he arrived at the station he kicked out at gardaí hitting both of them in the shins.
Aidan Crowley, acting solicitor, said that the single man, who has previous convictions, has a serious issue with alcohol, but was off it for 15 months prior to the incident. Mr Crowley said that Coleman cannot explain how he ended up lying across the railway tracks.
Judge Mary Devins said that if Coleman does not co-operate with the probation services “sobriety will be forced on him in prison”. Judge Devins adjourned the matter to March 3 for a probation report and sentencing.
