Castlebar man back in court for public disorder
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
A Castlebar man with a lengthy record of public order offences may face a lengthy period in prison if he is found to have breached the terms of a suspended sentence.
Eamon Maughan, of 21 Castlegrove, Pontoon Road, Castlebar, appeared before Castlebar District Court last Wednesday, having been in custody since the end of October.
Gda Sgt John O’Reilly told the court that Gda Deborah Gilroy observed Maughan at Castlegrove in a highly intoxicated state on March 22, 2025. He was arrested and issued with a fixed charge penalty notice, which subsequently went unpaid.
Sgt O'Reilly said that on October 15, 2025, Maughan was convicted of two public order offences, fined €150 on each charge, with three months allowed to pay. He has approximately 20 previous convictions.
Solicitor Gary Mulchrone said most of the recent convictions were for public order breaches, with further ones due before the court.
He said his client has ongoing difficulties with alcohol and frequently comes to the attention of gardaí while highly intoxicated, presenting a danger to himself. Maughan was on an alcohol treatment list within the prison system, but due to the lengthy waiting times, he is keen to rehabilitate outside of the prison setting. This is the first time his client has seriously sought treatment.
Mr Mulchrone said the most recent offence potentially triggered a suspended prison sentence imposed in 2021, adding that other suspended sentences had already been activated before Judge Eoin Garavan in the circuit court. The solicitor noted that a five-year suspended jail term had been imposed by the circuit court in 2021.
Judge Sandra Murphy said that treatment was the only effective way of addressing the situation and she did not see any purpose in imposing new financial penalties.
“There is no point in going after him for tranches of money. It would cost more than it is worth,” she said.
Judge Murphy indicated that the appropriate course was to finalise the matter and allow the statutory 14-day period to elapse before any further steps could be taken.
Maughan was remanded in custody to appear before Galway Circuit Criminal Court where the issue of the suspended prison sentence will be addressed by Judge Garavan.
- Published as part of the Courts Reporting Scheme.
