Man who threw beer keg at Longford pub door window told to pay compensation in bid to avoid conviction
A father of one who threw a beer keg at a pub door breaking a window was told that if he pays compensation and makes a charity donation he could avoid a conviction.
Delfim Cunha (48) of 63 Mostrim Oaks Edgeworthstown faced three charges. The defendant came before the District Court after pleading guilty to the offences of public intoxication, engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour and property damage.
Sergeant Mark Mahon said that on Saturday July 15 last at 11pm officers responded to a call regarding a disturbance at Conefreys Public House in Edgeworthstown.
Sgt Mahon said the defendant was drinking in the pub from 4pm that day and had been going over and back between the bookmakers and the bar.
Later in the evening Mr Cunha got into an argument with bar staff, as he believed he was short changed.
When the argument became heated the defendant was expelled from the public house. Mr Cunha went around to the rear of the pub, picked up a half keg and threw it at the back door.
The door had a double glazed section and the outer glass pane of it was smashed.
When the officers arrived they found the defendant in a highly intoxicated state and Mr Cunha was arrested.
He was threatening and abusive to Gardai at the time.
Solicitor Brid Mimnagh said her client works with Rainbow Engineering, a Offaly based company that is one of the leading agricultural and marine engineering suppliers in Ireland.
The solicitor pointed out that Mr Cunha had no previous convictions and has lived in Ireland for over 20 years, and in all that time has never come to the attention of Gardaí.
The legal representative said the father of one accepts he had “a lot of drink taken” and was “out of order”.
Ms Mimnagh told the court her client maintained he was injured while being removed from the pub.
This was why he was so upset at the time. The solicitor said he wanted to pay for the damage he caused.
Judge Bernadette Owens said she will give Mr Cunha the opportunity to pay €500; €200 to cover the damage to the pub and €300 to be paid to Lus na Gréine Family Resource Centre in Granard.
If the defendant makes the payment he will avoid a conviction.