A 28-year-old man who was found stumbling in the middle of the street after a night out and who then became aggressive towards gardaí, was before the holiday sitting of Castlebar District Court on Wednesday.
On March 31 2013 at 4.57am gardaí on patrol saw John King, 4 Thona Phuble, Pearse Road, Sligo, walking in the middle of Bridge Street, Westport. King stumbled and was unsteady on his feet. He was so intoxicated that he did not see the patrol van. When gardaí spoke to him he refused to give his details and became aggressive. The defendant pushed gardaí away and resisted being arrested and placed in the van. At the Garda station he refused to give his details and refused to be searched. He again pushed out at gardaí. King was identified by ID which he had on him.
The defendant has five previous convictions.
His solicitor James Hanley said that his client does not remember the night. He said that King came to Westport with friends and drank spirits “which have a detrimental effect on him” and the court heard that King has not drunk spirits since.
Mr Hanley said that King is a student in Galway, however is currently working in O2 in Sligo, and may return to college this year.
Judge Conal Gibbons convicted and fined him €500 for being threatening and abusive and €200 for being intoxicated in a public place.
