Dundalk man charged with being intoxicated and using abusive behaviour

A man who phoned the local garda station to report that he'd been assaulted in a pub, was subsequently arrested under the Public Order Act, Dundalk district court heard last week.

Michael O'Hagan (55) of Mary Street North, Dundalk was before the court charged with being intoxicated in a public place and using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at St. Patrick's Terrace, Dundalk on August 23rd last.

The investigating garda gave evidence of receiving a report of an alleged assault at a bar in Seatown around 9.20pm.

However, a separate caller reported that a person was shouting and using abusive language at them at St. Patrick's Terrace.

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On arrival there, he said he observed several members of the public and the defendant was using profanities.

The garda added there were no signs of any physical injuries on the defendant, who was slurring his words and he arrested him under the Public Order Act.

The court was told the defendant used profanities against gardai and solicitors of the court, and he was handcuffed as he was aggressive.

Mr. O'Hagan, who represented himself, claimed the garda had flung his full body weight into his ribs.

He put it to the witness that he had sought an ambulance and told a doctor who was called to the garda station that he had been assaulted, but the garda said the defendant had refused to answer any questions about the alleged assault and if he had any issues with how he was treated he could contact the Garda Ombudsman.

Judge Eirinn McKiernan convicted him on the basis of the garda's evidence, and after hearing he had a number of previous public order convictions, imposed a one month sentence which she suspended on the defendant entering a bond to be of good behaviour for 12 months.