Homeless Tipperary man accused of spitting ordered to pay €200

A homeless man accused of spitting at a passerby has been ordered to pay €200 to the poor box at Thurles District Court.

Michael Ryan, 55, of no fixed abode was charged with threatening and abusive behaviour.

The court heard that on July 4, 2021 gardaí received a report from a woman that she had been spat on while walking on Liberty Square.

They told the court that there was CCTV of the incident but that there was no audio.

However, solicitor for the accused Patrick Kennedy, said that it was Mr Ryan that was the victim.

He said that his client was homeless and sitting on some steps on Liberty Square in a “dishevelled state.”

He said that according to his client, the lady who made the complaint, passed his client with her husband and said of Mr Ryan, “look at that dirty b**tard”.

Mr Kennedy told the court that his client had spat at the ground but not at the woman.

Moreover, he said the woman’s husband had given a different account, and the CCTV does not clearly show the incident.

Mr Ryan has a number of previous convictions, including a suspended sentence from 2021.

Mr Kennedy said he acknowledges his client’s “serious criminal history”, but that he is now doing well.

He said before 2021, Mr Ryan was homeless but is now living in Novas accommodation, is taking his medication, is engaging with services and has not come to the attention of the gardaí.

“He is doing quite well since October 2021,” said Mr Kennedy. The gardaí confirmed for the court that they had not had to engage with the defendant since this incident.

Judge Elizabeth MacGrath said she noted a letter from Novas and said she “did not want to interrupt” his progress.

She ordered the defendant to pay €200 to the poor box and put the matter back to March 2024.

The judge said that if the money is paid by then, she will strike out the matter.

Otherwise, the defendant’s suspended sentence will be triggered.