Keeping your trousers securely fastened on a night out was the lesson learnt by a young Athlone man who was fined for exposing himself to a patrol car.
Brendan Harney (21 ) with an address at Brideswell, Athlone, County Roscommon, appeared before Judge Mary Fahy at Galway District Court for a threatening and abusive behaviour offence at Shop Street, Galway, on March 11, 2010.
Inspector Aidan Foley told the court that at 12.30am the defendant was on Shop Street when he pulled down his trousers and exposed himself to the patrol car.
Defence solicitor Sarah O’Dowd said that her client had very little recollection of the incident, and that he wished to apologise to gardai. She added that Harney has never been before the courts and that he suffers from a medical condition which has left him “feeling quite down”. Ms O’Dowd further explained that Harney experienced an epileptic seizure 18 months ago and has since been advised not to work until doctors can determine what caused the seizure.
Handing in character references into court, Ms O’Dowd then asked Judge Fahy not to record a conviction against her client as this could affect future work prospects.
However, Judge Fahy replied: “He exposed himself to a patrol car in full public view. I’m going to impose a monetary penalty.”
Harney was then convicted and fined €200 which by consent was taken from bail money already lodged.
