A man who drank some poitín, which he claims was in his house for a sick dog, and led to him being brought to Mayo General Hospital—accompanied by two ambulance staff and four gardaí— for being intoxicated, was before Castlebar District Court as he was threatening and abusive while at the hospital.
On April 2 2012 at 3.14am, Garda Ciaran Brett received a call from the staff at the accident and emergency department saying they were having difficulty with a patient. On arrival at the hospital the garda noted that Alan Traynor, 32 Abbey Town, Crossmolina was highly intoxicated. While the garda tried to speak to him, Traynor told the garda that “you’ll be sorry” and “you’ll regret this I promise”.
The court heard that the defendant had drunk from a see-through bottle and did not know that it was poitín; Traynor told the court that the drink was in the house for a sick dog. The defendant said that he did not remember what happened after he drank the poitin. Traynor had been taken to the hospital by two ambulance men and four gardaí.
“I am totally ashamed for what I have done,” the defendant told the court. Garda Brett also said that he had received an apology from Traynor.
Traynor has no previous convictions.
Judge Mary Devins said that if Traynor writes a letter of apology to the A&E staff and contributes €300 to the Anne Sullivan Centre for the deaf and blind, that the Probation Act would be applied. The case was adjourned to April 18 for this to be done.
