Father and son arrested in Portlaoise 

A pensioner and his son who couldn’t get a taxi after drinking in Portlaoise both appeared in court accused of public intoxication. 

John McInerney (76) of 86 Kirwan Park, Mountmellick and Patrick McInerney (43) of 5 Oak Drive, Ballacollig, Mountmellick were both accused of being intoxicated on the Mountmellick Road in Portlaoise on January 27, 2026. Patrick McInerney was also accused of refusing to provide his name and address to Gardaí. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his clients were pleading guilty to the offences. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said he appreciated the early plea. He said John McInerney was “stumbling on the footpath” at 1.30am on the date in question. The man was a risk to himself and others and had to be arrested, he explained. “He was ok when he  sobered up,” he added.  The defendant had 15 previous convictions which were described as being historic.

Mr Meagher said his client was 76 years old and living alone on a State pension. He said the offending occurred on the third anniversary of his wife’s passing. 

“Himself and his son, they simply went out and one drink followed another,” Mr Meagher said. He said they encountered Gardaí while trying to get a taxi. 

“If they had simply been able to get into a car and go home that would have been the end of it,” he said. 

Judge Stephanie Coggans gave the man one month to pay €150 to the court poor box. She said the default if he failed to pay was a conviction and a  €300 fine with three months to pay.  She said “I will do the same for Patrick”.

She remanded the pair on continuing bail and adjourned the matter back to Portlaoise District Court on March 23.

Mr Meagher requested legal aid and said his client was on a State pension and his son was in receipt of disability. Judge Coggans granted legal aid for each of the defendants.