Drunk on bus in Portlaoise

Traffic problems have arisen in Portlaoise town centre because of the location of the court on Main Street.

placeholder image — Traffic problems have arisen in Portlaoise town centre because of the location of the court on Main Street.

A drunk and abusive man who refused to get off a bus in Portlaoise has been fined.

Marco Talpos, 33, of 19 Burrin Street, Carlow admitted being drunk and abusive at Togher, Portlaoise on April 10 last.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said gardai responded to a call about a man on a bus that had travelled from Dublin on the date in question. He said there were about 30 people on the bus at 9.30pm.

“The accused immediately told gardai to f**k off,” Sgt Kirby told the court.

He said the man insisted he had paid for his ticket and he refused to get off the bus. He said the defendant has no previous convictions.

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client is a Romanian national who had visited a friend in Dublin. The friend had bought duty free and the man drank whiskey which he normally wouldn’t.

He said the man had fallen asleep on the bus and woke up in an agitated state.

“He compounded matters with his behaviour,” Mr Meagher conceded. He said the defendant was embarrassed and had penned a letter expressing his regret.

Judge Andrew Cody fined the man €250 and gave him three months to pay.