Multilingual man told by Judge to 'get a job' fined for Stranorlar public order offence

A university-educated man who was told to get a job by a judge after being found drunk on the street in Stranorlar has been fined €300.

Peter Adanowicz appeared at Letterkenny District Court charged with a public order offence.

The 43-year-old, who speaks six languages, was found drunk and clutching a bottle of whiskey on Main Street in Stranorlar on September 3, 2025.

Adanowicz was arrested by Gardai for his own safety.

He previously appeared before Judge Brendan O'Reilly who told the accused he was wasting his life and needed to get a job.“He’s a talented man and he needs a job to keep his brain working,” said Judge O’Reilly.

The Judge addressed Adanowicz and told him: “You are wasting your life” and asked him if he had applied for jobs.

The accused man's solicitor, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said his client as originally from Poland but had arrived in Ireland in 2006.

“He is extremely well-educated and speaks five or six different languages. He has even helped me here in court before by translating to other people.

“However, he is a man who cannot get off and stay off alcohol,” said Mr Gallagher.

His alcoholism had been made worse by the tragic death of his brother, Mr Gallagher added.

He told the court that Adanowicz had more than 30 previous convictions for public order incidents.

Mr Gallagher said his client was winning some battles with his alcoholism but was losing the war and was trying his best.

Passing sentence, Judge Emile Daly said this was a relatively minor offence but that it still takes up Garda time and she also noted the number of previous convictions for such incidents.

She fined the accused €300 and gave him six months to pay.