This article is from page 28 of the 2008-07-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 28 JPG
“DO you think it’s fair that you drink lots of beer while other people do lots of work?”’
That was the question a district court judge asked a 22-year-old who appeared before him charged with criminal damage after breaking the window of a pub.
Ronan Barry of 59 Killnasoolagh Park in Newmarket on Fergus plead- ed guilty to the charge in Ennis Dis- trict Court.
The court heard the man was “very drunk and shouting abuse and ob- scenities” when gardai arrived on the scene at the Cusack Stand bar in Newmarket at 6.40pm on January 2 last.
Judge Joseph Mangan told Barry to take the stand and asked “why were you angry with the window”?”’, to which Barry replied “I don’t know.”
The judge heard that Barry was neither in full-time education nor Le) Neb atee
‘And do you think it’s fair that you
drink lots of beer while other people do lots of work?”, the judge asked him.
The court heard that Barry’s moth- er had paid compensation for the broken window.
Judge Mangan was told that Barry had one previous conviction for a public order matter.
“When the garda met him, he was lying on the grass, very drunk. There is obviously a problem with drink,” his solicitor, Tara Godfrey said.
Judge Mangan remanded him to
September 19 for a professional re- port on drug and alcohol abuse, or- dered that he report daily to Shannon Garda Station sober and write a let- ter of apology to the publican, a copy of which is to be produced in court. By the remand date, he is also to be in full time education or training or have a job, the judge said.
Ms Godfrey suggested that the dai- ly signing would mean he would not have time to look for work, but Judge Mangan said the walk to Shannon “will do him good”.