Payment made to Longford District Court poor box

A young man who created a public nuisance when drunk avoided a criminal conviction by paying €350 to the court poor box at Longford District Court.

Daire McManus (20) of Ballymacormack, Longford faced three charges. Sergeant Enda Daly said McManus was charged with public intoxication, obstructing Garda in execution of duty and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at Main Street Longford on September 25, 2022.

Sgt Daly said Garda received a call about a disturbance on the town main street on the date of the offence. Officers arrived at the scene at 3:05am and found the defendant “highly intoxicated”. The officers directed the defendant to leave the area, but he refused to go.

When the Gardaí attempted to arrest McManus he resisted and had to be pepper sprayed. The defendant had no previous convictions.

Solicitor Brid Mimnagh said it was a case of “drink in, wit out”. Ms Mimnagh said although the defendant is not working at the moment he is from a decent family. She said he is very apologetic and will not come before the court again.

“He had too much to drink. That is not an excuse, just an explanation,” Ms Minagh said.

Judge Bernadette Ownes said she would give McManus the opportunity to avoid a conviction by paying €350 to the court poor box.