Suspended sentence for man in the Midlands who was drunk and abusive as children looked on

A man who was drunk and aggressive in the Midlands as children looked on had only moved into the area has been given a suspended prison sentence.. 

Ross O’Keeffe, 29, with an address at 8 Oak Drive, Ballacollig, Mountmellick, admitted being drunk and abusive at Smith’s Field, Mountmellick on July 5 last. 

Garda Sergeant Michael Tarpey said gardai were alerted to an aggressive male and they found the defendant when they responded. 

“He was on the ground asleep, smelling strongly of alcohol,” he said. 

“There was loads of children watching this,” said Sgt Tarpey. 

He said the man has 65 previous convictions and had apologised profusely after the incident. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client only moved into the area in recent weeks. He is engaged to be married and got “off to a very, very bad start” in the area.

“He remembers none of what the Sergeant outlined in court,” she said. 

She explained that her client had an over-reliance on alcohol.

Judge Andrew Cody warned the man that the behaviour wouldn’t be tolerated. He gave him a three month sentence which he suspended for two years.