A man involved in a mini-riot at a party was jailed in his absence for three months in the Athlone District Court this week (June 10 ).
The court heard how Gardai were called to a fight at a party in Moate in the early hours of April 5 “where about 50 people were involved”.
Defendant Daniel Lee (21 ), of Ardilaun Green, Mullingar, who was neither present nor represented in court, was charged with three public order offences in relation to the night in question.
“Everybody was drunk at the time and the defendant was one of these,” said Inspector Nicholas Farrell, prosecuting.
“He got involved in a smaller fight on the roadside and got very abusive. He shouted 'shut your mouth' to the garda and was arrested.”
On conviction, the court was entitled to hear Lee's previous convictions and heard how he had five for other public order offences.
The most recent of these was on November 13 last in Mullingar.
This was enough for Judge John Neilan who sentenced Lee to three months in prison and fined him an additional €800.
