This article is from page 17 of the 2012-10-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
GARDAÍ encountered a man pushing 11 shopping trolleys up the middle of a road in Ennis at 2.15am, a court has heard.
The incidents occurred at Friar’s Walk, Ennis on September 9 (2012). Gardaí were called to the area following reports of a man interfering with shopping trolleys near Dunnes Stores.
At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, David Darcy, with an address at Reaskaun, Larchill, Ennis, pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.
Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court that when gardaí arrived at the scene, Mr Darcy was pushing a line of trolleys up the middle of the road.
Mr Darcy refused to stop when asked to do so. Insp Gallagher said the accused threatened one of the gardaí, saying he would “put him down”.
The court heard Mr Darcy has 15 previous convictions.
Solicitor John Casey told the court Mr Darcy had been out drinking on the night after his application to join the British Army had been refused.
Mr Casey explained that his client had trained hard in order to be accepted into the British Army.
He said Mr Darcy, who previously worked as a mechanic, was very dis- appointed when his application was turned down.
Mr Casey added, “He wanted to get away from Ennis and from the crowd he was hanging around with.”
Of his client’s behaviour on the night, Mr Casey said;
“It was stupidity.
“It wasn’t like it was even an act of bravado where Mr Darcy was showing of to a crowd. He was pushing them (trolleys) in front of him like a train.”
The court heard that Mr Darcy had previously received a 14-day prison sentence that was suspended for two years.
Judge Patrick Durcan adjourned the case until this Wednesday (October 3) for sentencing.