Sligo court revokes bail for man who breached his curfew to go out to pub during Rag Week
The Sligo ChampionA man who is accused of breaching safety orders on four separate occasions had his bail revoked after breaching his curfew to go out during Rag Week.
The man is accused of breaching safety orders in a place unknown on September 17, 2025, October 27, 2025, November 1, 2025 and November 18, 2025.
Sergeant Kieran Naughton brought the revoke bail application before Judge Éiteáin Cunningham at Sligo District Court. He told Judge Cunningham that there were a number of breaches of bail.
The court heard that the defendant who is in his 20s broke his curfew, failed to sign on at Sligo Garda Station twice and failed to notify gardaí of a change of his address.
On February 24, gardaí received a 999 call from the accused’s mother, about a domestic dispute at her house. She also told Gardaí that her son missed his curfew and that he was possibly intoxicated. She said that he was no longer welcome at the address.
On the same day, the accused failed to sign on at Sligo Garda Station. He also only signed on once at Sligo Garda Station on February 13, when he was required to sign on twice every day.
On February 25, the defendant changed his address without notifying gardaí.
On February 17, gardaí received information from a family member that he was at Gracie’s Bar drinking and socialising in the smoking area at 2:30am. Gardaí viewed CCTV footage and confirmed that the accused was in the premises.
Sergeant Naughton told Judge Cunningham that the defendant would sign on at the Garda Station and then walk around for 30 minutes before signing on again.
Mr MacSharry asked Sergeant Naughton to confirm that his client went to his aunt’s house at after the incident on February 24, that he called to the address. Sergeant Naughton confirmed this. He added that he spoked to the accused’s aunt who confirmed that he was staying at her address.
Mr MacSharry asked Sergeant Naughton if he was aware that his client has a medical issue with his back due to a slipped disc. Sergeant Naughton replied that if the accused did have medical issues, how come he was observed in Gracie’s Bar on February 17.
Mr MacSharry again pointed out that he had no evidence of this other than his statement.
Sergeant Naughton replied that he viewed the footage himself. Mr MacSharry said that his client looks like every other person his age.
Mr MacSharry invited his client’s mother to the witness box.
Regarding the phone call she made to 999, the mother said that she never said that her son was intoxicated and that she only rang to defuse a situation between him and his brother. She explained that she was not at the house at the time and rang the gardaí just in case.
The accused’s mother was then asked a number of questions by Sergeant Butler.
When asked by Sergeant Butler if she thought it was acceptable to ring the gardaí to defuse a situation, she replied that “is that not what the gardaí are for?”.
She denied that she told the gardaí that her son had missed his curfew. Sergeant Butler asked how would the gardaí get the information if she did not tell them.
The defendant’s mother replied that she never did say that he missed curfew or that he was drinking.
Sergeant Butler asked if she was aware that the 999 phone call was recorded. She replied that she would like to hear it played.
Judge Cunningham said that it was a very serious matter as bail conditions need to be adhered to. She also said that she would like to see the CCTV footage.
After viewing the footage, Mr MacSharry said that his client admits that he was in Gracie’s Bar during Rag Week and that it was a breach of his bail conditions. He then invited his client to the witness box.
The accused told Judge Cunningham that he was grateful to get bail. Regarding waiting for half an hour before signing on again, he said that he would not do that anymore. He explained that he has a pain in his leg and that he did signed on twice within 30 minutes so that he wouldn’t have to walk a long distance again.
The accused said that he was very sorry to break his curfew. He explained that he was working that day and that his clients asked him to go out.
He explained that on February 25, two gardaí came to his new address, and that he confirmed that he will be staying there.
Sergeant Butler asked the accused what was in his pint glass in the smoking area at Gracie’s Bar as he was to remain sober under his bail conditions. He replied that it was Heineken Zero.
Judge Cunningham said that with the footage, the court is satisfied that the accused breached his bail conditions. She also noted that the accused’s mother gave evidence but that the court have been left in a quandary due to it.
Judge Cunningham also noted that on two occasions the defendant failed to sign on at Sligo Garda Station.
Judge Cunningham revoked the accused’s bail and remanded him in custody to March 12. She also directed a production order so that he will be present on the day.