Drunken escapade at Offaly pub after Ireland rugby match costs man €2,500

A MAN has paid €500 to a barman and €2,000 to charity as a result of his drunkenness in a pub where he had watched a rugby match between Ireland and England.

Conor Kavanagh (31), Spollanstown Wood, Tullamore appeared before the local District Court again this week having previously appeared and pleaded guilty to offences committed on March 19 last at Church Street.

Mr Kavanagh admitted assaulting a barman in the Newtown Bar, Keelan Feery, along with trespassing, causing or being likely to cause fear in another person, public drunkenness and a breach of the peace at Market Square, and criminally damaging a cell door and its walls in Tullamore Garda Station by smearing them with blood.

When the guilty pleas were entered in July this year, Judge Andrew Cody was told gardai had been called in relation to a highly intoxicated male refusing to leave the pub.

On arrival they found the accused was banging at Market Square trying to gain entrance to the Newtown Bar.

He was highly intoxicated and aggressive and had no shirt or shoes on. Earlier he had been found upstairs in private property in the Newtown Bar banging doors and putting a resident in fear.

Mr Kavanagh was refused service at about 12.20am and then called the barman a “fat prick” and “useless c...” and refused to leave the pub and threatened Mr Feery, saying: “I'll get you.”

The owner of the bar, Kevin Cleary, along with Mr Feery, got the man out onto Market Square where the accused tried to spit at Mr Feery's face but missed and got his shoulder.

When the gardai arrested him he called them “useless c...s” and was placed in a cell where he continuously banged the door causing his hand to bleed. He then smeared blood on the walls and spat on the cell door.

Mr Kavanagh's solicitor, Donal Farrelly, said his client had an impeccable record and no previous convictions prior to this incident which occurred after he had drunk a lot without eating.

Mr Farrelly said it was a dreadful experience for all who dealt with his client that night and stressed that Mr Kavanagh was extremely ashamed and embarrassed.

His client had thought he was in his own home and started taking off his clothes. Though it was no excuse, he had been very drunk.

Judge Cody adjourned sentence to this week for the payment of compensation and the sum to charity and Mr Farrelly said the total of €2,500 had been paid by his client, who still worked as a travelling salesman and was now doing well.

Judge Cody struck out the assault and public order charges and applied the Probation Act for the offence of smearing the door and wall of the garda station.