A young man who was put off a concert bus for being drunk and abusive has been given the benefit of the Probation Act if he pays €150 to the Garda Benevolent Fund.
Gardaí needed pepper spray to subdue Finn Feichter, 26 Ard Ghuaire, Gort, County Galway, who was one of a number of people causing trouble on the bus.
On January 20, shortly before 6pm, Garda Frank Ennis and Sgt William Tooher answered the bus driver’s call in Kinnegad.
A number of people had been smoking and drinking and he’d stopped the bus, and while most of them were allowed back on, Feichter (19 ) was refused.
He became aggressive as the bus was about to move away, and with a bottle of spirits in his hand, demanded his money back.
He was aggressive to both gardaí and had to be arrested, and when he started kicking and punching the sergeant in the rear of the patrol car, gardaí felt it wasn’t safe to continue their journey.
They attempted to subdue him, but Garda Ennis described the situation as “very bad”, as he continued shouting, roaring, and kicking.
Eventually they had to use pepper spray and he had to be brought to Mullingar by van because they couldn’t take him in the car.
He apologised personally to the garda.
Mr Dennis Larkin said his client had no recollection of the incident because he had been drinking an unnamed spirit which had “a terrible effect” on him.
He had brought €150 for the Garda Benevolent Fund as part of his apology.
Feichter, who is currently unemployed, brought what Mr Larkin described as “an impressive list of references” to the court.
Judge Elizabeth McGrath noted that the teenager had been “completely out of it” and was concerned that he might have a serious drink problem.
However Feichter said “I just think I drank too much that evening” and said he “wouldn’t touch” the unnamed drink again.
Satisfied that there was no underlying problem, and appreciative of his “very complimentary” references, the judge gave him the benefit of the Probation Act.
“Thanks judge,” he replied.
