Dundalk court: Man spat at hospital security guard

A man who spat at a hospital security guard and urinated in a garda station after he was arrested for a public order offence, was given suspended sentences at Dundalk District Court.

Richard McCullough (34) with an address at Carrickedmond, Kilcurry was charged with assault at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda on May 11th last year and with using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour on Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk on March 27th 2023.

The court heard that gardaí who responded to a report of a fight in Dundalk town centre, encountered the defendant in an intoxicated state, with a small cut to his head.

He was drooling from his mouth and was irate with the officers.

He was taken to Dundalk Garda Station where he urinated in the cell, which resulted in a criminal damage charge.

He was also found with €20 worth of Alprazolam on February 21st the same year and on March 27th at 4.30pm, he was in an intoxicated state on Clanbrassil Street, wearing one Wellington boot, and was unsteady on his feet when he attempted to stand up.

The court heard gardai who received a report of a man acting aggressively at the Lourdes hospital, found him unsteady on his feet and was shouting profanities.

The defendant, who had to be escorted out of the premises, spat at a security guard and swung at him, but missed.

After hearing the 34 year old had 110 previous convictions, the Defence solicitor told the court that her client has had a chronic alcohol addiction for quite a long time, having lost his father and his brother when he was a young man.

He found himself homeless in Dundalk, but had been doing well after finding employment and moving back to Cavan.

Judge Eirinn McKiernan imposed a two month sentence for using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and a consecutive two month jail term for the assault offence, both of which were suspended on the defendant entering a bond to be of good behaviour for 12 months.