Drunk in church car park in Laois

A man who was drunk in a church car park had no recollection of the incident.  

Stephen Malone (53) of 60 Buttercup Avenue, Esker Hills, Portlaoise was arrested in the car park of SS Peter and Paul’s Church in Portlaoise on May 14 last. 

“I have no memory of the occasion so I will trust the gardaí and plead guilty,” he told a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the man was stumbling and “clearly a danger to himself and others” on the date in question. The man called the arresting garda “an effing moran”, he said.

Sgt Kirby said the defendant had five previous convictions for public order offences. 

“I can only apologise for my behaviour,” the man said. He explained that he is awaiting treatment for alcohol addiction and can’t afford to fund it privately as he is on jobseekers allowance. 

Judge Andrew Cody sentenced the man to three months and suspended the sentence for two years. He fined him €200 and gave him six months to pay. 

“You are now beginning to run out of road,” Judge Cody warned the man at the sitting of Portlaoise District Court.