Deaf man with 'difficulty in communicating' in court for drunkenness at Limerick hospital

A DEAF MAN with over 200 previous convictions has appeared before Limerick District Court.

Richard Coffey, 38, of Arlington Lodge, Church street, Tralee, Kerry, was at the ED at UHL on January 29, 2026. The court heard that the man was intoxicated, and the hospital security called for the gardaí.

By the time the gardaí came, Mr Coffey had left the ED and was in a “highly intoxicated” state on St. Nessan’s Road.

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Garda evidence detailed that when Mr Coffey was apprehended, he was “a danger to himself and others”. The man was then charged with a section four public order offence.

A sign language interpreter communicated the court proceedings to the man. Solicitor Sarah Ryan, defending Mr Coffey, said that “sometimes there’s difficulty in communicating and that’s what gets him in trouble”.

The solicitor said “he had a legitimate reason to be there” and that “he had been in hospital for 13 hours at that stage”.

Judge Patricia Harney said: “Thirteen hours in A and E would have given him some time to sober up - unless he brought some cans with him”.

Ms Ryan put forth that Mr Coffey “was told there was no one to see him” at the hospital.

Prosecuting Sergeant Denis Waters told the court that Mr Coffey has 221 previous convictions - including 51 for section four public order, 16 for section six public order, and 122 for section four theft.

Judge Harney proceeded to convict the man, and fined him €300. Mr Coffey’s interpreter gave thanks to the court on Mr Coffey's behalf for providing an interpreter.

-Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme