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Drunk and disorderly court reports
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2026-07-31 · Dublin
A 77-year-old man with 470 previous convictions has been sentenced to two months in jail for threatening and abusive behaviour towards Luas staff. Paddy McCann, who was released on bail but failed to appear in court, was arrested for being intoxicated in a public place and failing to appear in court while on bail. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to two months in prison, to run concurrently with his existing three-month sentence for theft and public-order offences. His solicitor, Andrew Vallely, argued that McCann suffers from various medical issues and was more cogent when sober. Judge Anne Watkin noted that McCann had initially pleaded not guilty before changing his plea, which did not help his case. She sentenced him to two months in prison, taking into account his medical conditions and the fact that he was already serving another sentence.
2026-07-23 · Dublin
A judge has described it as 'outrageous' that solicitors who had left the criminal legal aid panel instructed another solicitor not to represent their client at a contested bail hearing. Patrick Daly (57) of Burton Park, Leopardstown Road, Dublin 18, appeared in custody before Dún Laoghaire District Court, where gardaí objected to bail on the grounds that he was a flight risk. Mr Daly faces five charges, including failing to appear in court, two counts of being intoxicated in a public place, refusing to provide his name and address to a garda, and causing €80 worth of criminal damage by urinating in the custody area at Dundrum Garda Station. Judge Watkin asked solicitor Andrew Vallely, who was present in court, to speak to the accused and consider representing him for the bail application. Mr Vallely initially told the court that he was reluctant to step in because the accused was already represented by another solicitors' firm.
2026-04-24 · Dublin
A man who smashed his neighbour's window and engaged in anti-social behaviour had his three-month jail term replaced with a fully suspended sentence on appeal. Karl Hiney broke his neighbour's living room window and damaged another after having 'issues' with them. He was also convicted of being intoxicated in a public place and using threatening and abusive behaviour. Hiney was later lodged an appeal against the severity of his sentence. Sergeant Shay Leonard told the court that Hiney made admissions to breaking a window and was conveyed to a garda station. Defence counsel said that Hiney had a long history of mental health problems and had issues with his neighbours over the years. Judge Christopher Callan said that he understood the context in which the incident happened with regard to Hiney's mental health and decided to suspend the three-month sentence for a period of two years on the condition that Hiney engage with the Probation Service and continue with counselling and psychotherapy courses. Karl Hiney pleaded guilty.
2026-03-06 · Carlow
A Carlow Circuit Criminal Court jury found Colvin O'Brien not guilty of assault charges involving two gardaí and of threatening and abusive behaviour. O'Brien had pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in a public place, and Judge Mary Morrissey placed him on a 12-month probation bond.
2026-02-18 · Dublin
A man who verbally abused gardai and resisted arrest on a Dublin street had his three-month jail term replaced with 180 hours of community service on appeal. Jason Prenderville, 35, was convicted of obstruction of a peace officer, threatening and abusive behavior, and being intoxicated in a public place. During the incident, he told gardai to leave him alone and had to be restrained on the ground. He has 73 previous convictions and was described as a nuisance by the judge. His defense noted that he now attends AA meetings and has a history of alcohol problems. The judge ruled that community service was more appropriate than imprisonment, emphasizing that Prenderville should abstain from alcohol. The appeal highlighted the severity of his previous convictions and the need for a more proportionate sentence.
2026-01-21 · Wicklow
A woman who was on probation when she slapped a garda, causing him to bleed, has been given a two-month prison sentence. Samantha Maughan pleaded guilty to a public order offence and being intoxicated in a public place. The incident occurred on Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, when she shouted at members of the public and hit a garda, causing him to bleed. Judge Anne Watkin said the charge was at the higher end of a public order offence and noted Maughan's 28 previous convictions, including 12 public order offences. The defence said she was remorseful and receiving support from her partner. The judge said the incident amounted to an assault on a garda, though no assault charge was brought. Maughan was sentenced to two months in prison with a recognisance set at €500 in the event of an appeal.
2025-11-06 · Dublin
On 9 February a 50‑year‑old man named Shane Berkeley, of Knockmore Crescent, Tallaght, caused a drunken outburst at the Plaza Hotel, Tallaght. He was seen pacing the corridor, topless and barefoot, smelling strongly of alcohol and described as a danger to himself and others. He attempted to re‑enter his locked room, then struck a staff member twice in the face and grabbed him by the shirt before being restrained. Gardaí arrested him and he was taken to Tallaght Garda Station, where officers noted he was extremely intoxicated. A chair worth €200 was broken in his room. Berkeley pleaded guilty to criminal damage, threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and being intoxicated in a public place. He repaid the €200, withdrew assault charges, and apologised to the staff member. Judge Patricia McNamara directed him to a restorative justice programme and adjourned the case to 16 January 2026 for finalisation.
2025-09-11 · Ireland
Dwayne McConville, 39, of Davitt Park, Ballybrack, was sentenced to one month in Mountjoy Prison after pleading guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to being intoxicated in a public place and to threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour. The offence occurred on Georges Street Lower, Dún Laoghaire, on 15 October 2024 when McConville, while drinking from a bottle of beer, shouted to Garda Dylan Walsh that he would shoot him. McConville was stumbling and unsteady on his feet when stopped on the footpath. The court noted he had 61 prior convictions for public order offences and 76 in total. He had previously received a two‑year peace bond under the Probation Act in December 2023. The judge, citing that this was his 62nd and 63rd public order offence, imposed the one‑month sentence. Recognisance was fixed at €500 own bond and €500 independent surety, half of each to be lodged in cash.
2025-05-14 · Dublin
Dean McAuley, 34, a repeat offender with 17 prior convictions, pleaded guilty in the District Court to using threatening and abusive language and being intoxicated in a public place contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, after drunkenly threatening and abusing staff at a Dublin Macari's chipper on 13 July 2024. He was sentenced to two months in custody, with the last month suspended. On appeal, Judge James O'Donohoe fully suspended the custodial sentence, leaving McAuley free while the suspended portion remains in effect.
2016-06-29 · Donegal
The trial of Krzystof Grzegorski and Dariusz Weckowicz for the murder of Bogdan Michalkiewicz (41) in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, has heard evidence regarding the accused's background. Grzegorski, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, was described as having started drinking at age 14 after moving from Poland. His co-accused, Weckowicz, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The State did not accept Grzegorski's manslaughter plea. Detective Garda Alfie McHale testified that Grzegorski had a history of public drunkenness, including a 2010 conviction at age 16. On the weekend of the killing, Grzegorski was seen on CCTV stealing vodka from supermarkets in Letterkenny, including an incident after 6pm on May 13, 2013, when the prosecution states Michalkiewicz was already deceased. Grzegorski was arrested with Weckowicz after security guards called gardai. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
2015-11-16 · Dublin
Leanne Goode, 21, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Paula McCarthy on the DART on 13 July 2013, but was convicted of the attack. She also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Richard McCarthy, breaching the peace and being intoxicated in public, and was acquitted on those charges. The court found Goode's conduct "unbecoming of a lady" when she boarded the train, roared, danced and "made an absolute and utter nuisance of herself." She punched Ms McCarthy in the face, fracturing her eye socket and causing a bleed. Ms McCarthy, who was on the train with her husband Richard, who has since passed away, received treatment and now wears glasses. In her victim impact report, Ms McCarthy asked the judge not to see Goode jailed, stating she was not vindictive and was remorseful.
2015-10-08 · Dublin
Christopher Morrissey, aged 29, was jailed for 21 months after a drunken driving incident on 4 October 2014. He had been driving a taxi back from a pub with a woman he met online, then attempted to turn his car around, colliding with three parked cars. While being taken to a squad car, he head‑butted Garda Kevin Gaynor, causing a cut to the officer's mouth and damage to his teeth. Morrissey resisted arrest, refused to provide a blood or urine sample, and was found intoxicated in a public place. He also faced charges of assaulting a Garda, resisting arrest, refusing a sample, intoxication, breach of the peace, and driving without insurance. With 60 prior convictions and recent disqualifications for 12 and 15 years, the court imposed a 21‑month custodial sentence and a five‑year driving disqualification. The judge noted his cavalier attitude towards road rules and the seriousness of the offences. Christopher Morrissey pleaded guilty.
2014-05-06 · Dublin
In Swords District Court, four brothers, John Lawrence (23), William Lawrence (22), Stephen Lawrence (21), and Christopher Lawrence (20), pleaded guilty to failing to comply with garda direction and being intoxicated in a public place on April 20th at Hogs & Heifers Bar and Grill in Swords. They were ordered to make a €800 charitable donation to avoid a conviction. The court heard that the men were celebrating the birth of Christopher's baby and were intoxicated. Judge Patrick Clyne informed the court that the men are currently unemployed and that if they make the donation, the case will be struck out. Anbridas Stabinis (42) pleaded guilty to the theft of two bottles of vodka from Dunnes Stores in The Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords on March 20th. He was given a 14-day suspended sentence and bound to the peace for two years. Darrell Ferguson (21) and Shane Murphy (22) were remanded on continuing bail to re-appear before the court on May 27th after being charged with assaulting another man causing him harm. Patrick Kerley (21) had his case struck out after making a €250 charitable donation to Fingal Bereaved by Suicide.