This article is from page 13 of the 2008-05-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
SPITTING is very serious and can lead to infection, a district judge warned, after he heard that a bar manager had been spat at after he ejected a man from the premises.
Marcin Tkacz (27), of Bruach na Sionna, Shannon, pleaded guilty to assault and two public order charges arising from an incident on Decem- ber 21, last.
Inspector Michael Gallagher told Ennis District Court that gardai were called to Durty Nelly’s bar in Bunratty amid claims that there were problems with a man who had been asked to leave.
“Gardai met the manager. He point- ed out the accused, who was sitting in the back of a taxi,” said Inspector Gallagher.
He said the accused was asked to get out of the taxi and he obliged. However, he became verbally abusive towards the manager Gary O’Toole and had to be restrained by gardai.
“Mr O’Toole alleged to gardai the defendant had already punched him in the face and pushed him against
the wall before the arrival of the gardai, when he was refused entry to the pub,” said Inspector Gallagher.
Defending solicitor Jenny Fitzgib- bon said her client had been out so- cialising with work colleagues.
He had a lot to drink and was “not in aclear state’, she said.
Mr O’ Toole told the court the 1nc1- dent lasted more than a half hour.
‘“T had asked him several times to
get a taxi. He assaulted me at the doorway. He swung a punch at me,’ he said, adding that he also spat at abbeee
Judge Tim Lucey said, “Spitting has become a very serious business nowadays, because of the possibility of infections especially. Where did he spit at you?”
Mr O’ Toole replied, “It didn’t actu- ally land on me.”
The judge asked did the accused have compensation in mind and Ms Fitzgibbon said he had €500 in court, which he was prepared to of- oe
The judge said, “Mr O’Toole, that is not in any way compensation for you being assaulted or being spat at, which is an assault in itself nowa- days. I hope you will accept it as a token.”
Mr O’Toole said he wished the money to go to charity and a recom- mendation of Cancer Research at Cahercalla Hospice was accepted by eemeelebum