Man cursed at neighbours as he tried to control his dog 

A man who began verbally abusing neighbours when his dog escaped while he was drunk may be entitled to a caution. 

Milan Sorokac, 32, with an address at 8 Balladine, Abbeyleix appeared in court accused of intoxication and threatening and abusive behaviour at his address on June 20 last. 

Garda Matthew McGrath said gardai had attended an incident at the address on the date in question. He said the man’s dog exited the property and a couple of neighbours complained about the barking. 

“He began engaging in abusive behaviour with the neighbours,” said Garda McGrath. 

“He was highly intoxicated and he wasn’t taking any advice,” he explained. 

He told one of the neighbours to “shut the f**k up” and called another neighbour a bitch, he said. 

Garda McGrath said the man had two previous convictions and both were road traffic matters. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client was a Slovakian national who was going through a difficult time. 

“He says he is no longer drinking, he has completely stopped,” she said. 

She expressed her belief that the man may be entitled to an adult caution instead of a conviction. 

“I would ask you to adjourn to explore whether that option is open,” she said. 

“He was trying to get his dog under control,” she added. 

Judge Andrew Cody agreed to adjourn the matter to Portlaoise District Court on September 28.