Mullingar District Court was asked not to send a man to prison who refused to comply with Garda directions because he was in “a silly argument over nothing”.
Judge John Neilan challenged Aiden Phelan of Emper, Ballynacarrigy to give a reason why he shouldn’t spend four months in the Midlands Prison after failing to leave Pearse Street at 3.15am on January 31.
Gardaí had been alerted to the presence of two men arguing.
Mr Robert Marren said his client had had too much to drink and had merely been involved in a silly argument over nothing.
In handing down a €500 fine, Judge Neilan said it was “all very well” to have legislation compelling people to leave an area under the Public Order Act, “but the reality of life is, a large number of people refuse point blank”.
“The people of Mullingar are entitled to a quiet, peaceful life,” he concluded.
