A man who, while intoxicated, refused to leave the vicinity of a house where he was drinking, was before Ballina District Court on Tuesday.
Garda Edward Naughton received a call on Sunday March 14 2010 at 6.30pm to go to a house in St Patrick’s Estate in Ballina, where damage had been caused.
Martin Collins, 121 Abbey Court, Killala Road, Ballina, was at the scene and was very intoxicated. There was broken glass everywhere and bottles of alcohol.
Collins refused to leave the area, shouted abusive language at gardaí, and was aggressive towards gardaí. The defendant left the area when his wife arrived.
Solicitor for the defendant, John Gordon, said that Collins had nothing to do with the damage caused to the house — that was caused by two brothers who got into a fight — and his client got angry as he had to leave the house “which interfered with his drinking”.
Twenty-eight year old Collins, who has previous convictions, is a married father of four who is unemployed. Judge Mary Devins convicted and fined him €300 and also directed that €200 be given to the Garda Benevolent Fund.
