Man refused to obey Garda order during Covid
The defendant, who now resides in Waterford, pleaded guilty to the offences at Castlebar District Court.
A man drank from a wine bottle in front of Gardaí and continually refused to heed directions to stay away from a Castlebar walkway.
Nathan Sweeney, aged 23, formerly of Gort na gClogh, Ballinrobe, but now residing in Co Waterford, pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court to breaching the Public Order Act.
Gda John McNamara told the court he was on patrol in the Lough Lannagh area of Castlebar on November 14, 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Gda McNamara said he observed a group of males including Sweeney. He was attempting to move the men on when Sweeney took a wine bottle from a rucksack and drank it in front of the gardaí. Gda McNamara said Sweeney was disruptive and uncooperative when asked to leave the scene, but eventually moved on.
However, a short time later, a female walker altered Gardaí to a group of men under the bridge at Lough Lannagh. Sweeney was again within the group. He was asked to leave again but Gardaí discovered he had returned to the same location at around 5pm that evening.
He was charged with breaching bye-lays prohibiting drinking in public.
Gda McNamara told the court that the accused caused considerable disruption in Castlebar on the date in question. The court previously dealt with the theft of a mountain bike by Sweeney which occurred on the same day.
“He was coming to our attention a lot in Castlebar around that time,” said Gda McNamara.
Solicitor Cathy McDarby said her client is now working and living in Waterford. He is in a relationship and is a "productive member of society".
“It took him a long time to grow up,” said Ms McDarby. “I would like to see him leave Castlebar this evening because it is not a good place for him,” she added.
Judge Fiona Lydon gave Sweeney the benefit of the Probation Act.
