Man sentenced for not paying bill at Dundak's Imperial Hotel

A man who "ate and drank" at the Imperial Hotel and left without paying the bill of €173.50, was sentenced to two months at Dundalk District Court last week.

Seamus Maughan with an address at Baskin Park, Stockhole Lane, Cloughran, Dublin 17 was charged with obtaining services and not paying for them, on April 24th last.

The court heard he had previous convictions for theft and driving without insurance.

The Defence barrister said the offending occurred in the context of chronic alcohol, when he was in the throes of his addiction following the breakdown of his marriage but Mr. Maughan is now in a new relationship which has had a stabilising effect.

He added the defendant had left school at 14 with no qualifications and literacy difficulties but he has attended adult literacy classes and he has reached a stage where he is making positive steps.

Judge Eirinn McKiernan imposed a two month sentence, consecutive to the sentence he is currently serving.