Man was arrested after gardaí called to Portlaoise Hospital
He appeared before Portlaoise District Court
A man admitted being aggressive and calling gardaí c**ts at Portlaoise Hospital.
Jason Coughlan (27) of 6 Ash House, Riverview, Kilbeggan admitted to being intoxicated and abusive and possessing Xanax without prescription at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise on January 6 last.
Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said gardaí were called to the hospital at 7.45pm on the evening in question.
Responding gardaí discovered an intoxicated male being abusive to staff. The man became abusive to gardaí and was “shouting f off you c**ts and you are a shower of pricks,” he explained.
He said the defendant was arrested and gardaí discovered 30 Xanax tablets. He said the man, who had 12 previous convictions, “was alright” when he sobered up.
A solicitor said the accused is originally from Mullingar but was living in Kilbeggan. The man suffers from “extreme anxiety” and a borderline personality disorder, he explained.
At the time of the offending, the man was addicted to street tablets, he said.
The solicitor said his client had taken some steps to address his issues and he asked that he be given credit for the guilty plea.
Judge Nicola Andrews referred the man to the probation services and adjourned the case back to July 15 for a probation report.