Man was arrested during St Patrick’s Day Parade in Laois
The man had been arrested in Portlaoise Hospital a day earlier and on the Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, a day before that
A man who was arrested during the Portlaoise St Patrick’s Day Parade had been arrested in Portlaoise Hospital a day earlier.
Steven Hickey (48) of 13 Thornbury, Raheen, Limerick pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and abusive on the Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise on March 15, 2024 and to the same charges at Portlaoise Hospital on March 16, 2024. He also admitted being intoxicated on Main Street in Portlaoise on March 17, 2024.
Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby told a sitting of Portlaoise District Court that gardaí were called to the Abbeyleix Road by a taxi driver as a passenger was “refusing to pay a fare and being abusive and aggressive” on March 15. He said the defendant, who was highly intoxicated, paid for the fare but then told gardaí “they were c**ts and to f**k off”.
A day later on March 16, gardaí were called to Portlaoise Hospital where a man was causing a disturbance in the Emergency Department at 10pm. He said the man’s speech was slurred and he refused to calm down when requested to do so by gardaí.
On March 17, Sgt Kirby said the defendant was intoxicated and unsteady on his feet on Main Street, Portlaoise at 1.30pm. He said there was a large crowd around including children for the St Patrick’s Day Parade. Sgt Kirby said the man had to be arrested. He said the man had 15 previous convictions.
Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client, who was wearing dark glasses in court due to issues with his eyesight, was pleading guilty to the offences. He said the incidents all occurred over a period of 72 hours.
He said the man had been the victim of a “serious mugging attack” in 2021 which had left him with ongoing issues. He said the man has anxiety in public. “That has led to a dependency on alcohol,” he said.
Mr Meagher said his client had little recollection of what happened on the dates in question but he accepts fully the version of events outlined at the sitting of Portlaoise District Court. He said he was apologising to gardaí and all parties who encountered him during the offending.
Mr Meagher explained that the man was getting help through the HSE in Limerick. He said this included the possibility of getting residential treatment. He said his client was somebody who was now on the right road and may benefit from monitoring.
Judge Susan Fay requested a probation report for the defendant and asked that he also be assessed for restorative justice. She adjourned the matter back to Portlaoise District Court on September 8 for finalisation and said the defendant could be excused if he is in residential treatment.