Kerry man fined for abusive language on the ‘Ho Chi Minh’, court hears
The KerrymanA judge fined a Tralee man for intoxication on the town’s ‘Ho Chi Minh’ trail at Tralee District Court last Wednesday.
Martin O’Brien (52) of 28 Spa Road, Tralee was charged with intoxication to an extent of being a danger to himself or others and also faced a charge of threatening or insulting language.
The court heard that Mr O’Brien was found lying on the footpath at 11pm on July 12.
His solicitor, Pat Mann, argued the path led to his client’s home on Spa Road and, therefore, he had not presented a danger to himself or others.
“If he was laying on the footpath on the Ho Chi Minh, he must have been on the way home,” said the solicitor.
“The Ho Chin Minh?” asked the judge.
“The Ho Chi Minh,” said Mr Mann. “Where Gleasure’s Funeral Home is.”
The judge inquired why the area was known as the Ho Chi Minh trail.
At this, Mr Mann directed the court’s attention to local reporter Anne Pullen, a veteran on Tralee vernacular.
Ms Pullen said the road had gotten the nickname after County Council delays to its development.
“It took so long to build,” she said.
“Perhaps we could adopt that term for the Mallow Bypass or the Tralee Courthouse,” said Judge Waters, referring to two government projects where construction has yet to begin.
Judge Waters convicted and fined Mr O’Brien €100 for the threatening or insulting language, taking into account the charge for public intoxication.