Wexford man fined €500 after confrontation with Irish Rail staff at Bray Dart Station
The Wicklow PeopleA Wexford man has been fined following an incident at Bray Dart Station in which he allegedly shouted abuse at Irish Rail staff and later at gardaí.
Anthony Kehoe, with an address in Wexford town, appeared before Bray District Court, charged with Section 6 and Section 8 public order offences.
Garda Kavanagh, of Bray Garda Station, told the court that while on mobile patrol he observed the defendant harassing Irish Rail staff at the station. When gardaí approached Kehoe, the court heard that he called them “fu*king pigs.”
Garda Kavanagh told the court that when he spoke to Irish Rail staff, they alleged that Kehoe had become irate after missing his train back to Wexford. Kehoe was given the option to leave, but Garda Kavanagh said he refused to cooperate.
During cross-examination, counsel for the defence, Michael O’Connor, put it to Garda Kavanagh that it is not unusual for someone to become upset after missing a train. Mr O’Connor further alleged that gardaí did not give his client sufficient time to leave the station before arresting him.
Irish Rail staff declined to provide a victim impact statement.
In his evidence, Kehoe told the court that he regularly travels to Bray for a day at the beach using a travel pass he has due to being diagnosed with schizophrenia. He alleged that he approached a member of Irish Rail staff to enquire about the 8.30 pm train back to Wexford when the staff member told him to “get away as we are busy”.
Kehoe denied allegations that he called Irish Rail workers “paedophiles and tramps”. The court was informed that Kehoe is an avid woodworking enthusiast and had a sore shoulder on the day in question.
He also told the court that he regularly uses the Rosslare Europort service and that staff there are always helpful, so he was confused by the staff member’s reaction.
When questioned about whether he was intoxicated or refused to leave the station before being arrested, he told the court that he cannot drink due to his medication and that he was “having a panic attack”.
The court heard that Mr Kehoe has 30 previous convictions, most relating to alcohol-related public order matters.
Judge David Kennedy fined Mr Kehoe €500 and gave him ten months to pay, as he is currently living in sheltered homeless accommodation.