Community service for man in the Midlands who verbally abused women and assaulted garda

Alcohol triggered the offending of a man who verbally abused groups of women before assaulting a garda, a solicitor said. 

Jordan Byrne (25) of 21 Abbey Court, Portlaoise appeared before a sitting of Portlaoise District Court accused of being intoxicated and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at Market Square, Portlaoise on January 1, 2024. He was also accused of assaulting a garda at Portlaoise Garda Station on the same day. 

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client had returned to court with a positive probation report. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the accused had been highly intoxicated in Portlaoise at 3am on the morning he was arrested. The man was being verbally abusive to groups of women calling them “skinny holes” and “fat c**ts”, said Sgt Kirby. He said the man had “lashed out” and struck a garda in the face at the garda station.   Sgt Kirby said the defendant had four previous convictions. 

Judge Susan Fay noted the defendant had been deemed suitable for community service. 

“He is certainly willing to engage, judge,” Mr Fitzgerald replied. 

He described the offending as “an appalling incident” but said it appeared to have been triggered by alcohol and his client had now addressed his issues. “Clearly alcohol doesn’t suit him,” he said.  

“He is working in a stoneyard at the moment,” Mr Fitzgerald told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

Mr Fitzgerald said it should be of some comfort to the court that he hasn’t come to garda attention since the incident.

Judge Fay noted it was a serious offence but she said the man “has done great work” at the direction of the probation service. 

She sentenced him to 100 hours of community service and placed him on a 12 month probation bond.