Longford District Court: Fined for public order incident outside pub

A man has been convicted and fined €300 for public order offences on Ballymahon’s main street following his ejection from a pub last month.

Stephen Connor (47), of 1 Cluain Oir, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at a sitting of Longford District Court last week, charged with two public order offences.

The court heard that, on February 11, 2024, Mr Connor was watching the Ireland versus Italy Six Nations rugby match and became “highly intoxicated”.

He was ejected from a public house on Main Street, Ballymahon and, at 7.30pm, when Gardaí arrived on the scene, he “refused to cooperate”, giving a false first name, telling Gardaí he was homeless, and refusing to give a surname.

He was “arrested for his own safety” and proceeded to make threats to Gardaí.

He was later charged with Section 4 and Section 6 Public Order offences, namely public intoxication and threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour.

He made no reply to the charges.

Defence solicitor, Mr Frank Gearty, told the court that “drink has been the bane of his (Mr Connor’s) life” and that his client had become “highly intoxicated” in the pub when watching the match.

He also told the court that Mr Connor has since apologised to the arresting Garda.

“He was working as an accountant but is now working on buildings. He’s 47 years old and not married but has one child. He works in Dublin,” said Mr Gearty.

“He previously served a prison sentence. He says he’s re-evaluating his life. He hasn’t been drinking. He occasionally drinks and when he does, he lets himself down.”

Judge Owens, having heard the evidence, proceeded to convict and fine Mr Connor €300 on the section six public order charge, giving him four months to pay.

The section four charge was taken into consideration.