Man was asleep on footpath in Abbeyleix on Christmas Eve

A man who was on suspended prison sentence was found drunk and asleep on the footpath in Laois. 

Patrick McInerney, 42, of 1 The Springs, Kilminchy was arrested for being drunk and abusive at Main Street, Abbeyleix last Christmas eve, December 24, 2023.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the accused was found asleep on a footpath on the Main Street in Abbeyleix at 12.25am. 

“When he was aroused he became aggressive,” Sgt Kirby explained. 

He said the defendant has 15 previous convictions and was serving a five year suspended sentence. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client had been out with his sister and hadn’t had a drink for three years prior to that night. 

“The last thing he should have been was drunk in a public path in Abbeyleix,” she conceded. 

“He is medicated for mental health issues and of course he shouldn’t have been drinking,” she said. 

Ms Fitzpartick said her client had penned a letter of apology. She said drinking would be out of character for him at this point in his life. 

“His wife is with him and is very cross,” she said. 

She said the man was pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity, had brought €200 to court and attended his local men’s shed. 

Judge Nicola Andrews said she would accept what had happened “was a blip” as Ms Fitzpatrick had suggested. 

“I am very concerned that the nature of this behaviour took place during a suspended sentence,” she said. 

However, Judge Andrews ordered that that matter be struck out once a payment of  €100 was made to the court poor box. 

“I will not take the same course of action if there is another occasion,” Judge Andrews warned the defendant.