Not a good day at the races for Mayo man
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the offence when he appeared before Castlebar District Court.
A 40-year-old man who was deemed to be intoxicated and a danger to himself and others had to be escorted from a race meeting in Ballinrobe by a Garda.
Paul Durcan, Cloondeash, Ballinrobe Road, Castlebar appeared before Castlebar District Court where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of intoxication in a public place while at the Ballinrobe Races on April 11, 2025.
Durcan had been requested to leave the racecourse by security staff following allegations that he had become abusive to them and to racegoers. He was eventually escorted from the course by Gda John Doherty at around 8pm.
Gda Doherty told the court he was on traffic duty along the Ballinrobe to Castlebar Road when he observed Durcan walking through the traffic and he had to direct Durcan to stay off the road.
The court heard that on one occasion, Durcan went onto a private bus and Gda Doherty had to physically remove him from it.
Gda Doherty said Durcan was intoxicated to such an extent that he might endanger himself or others. He issued him with a fixed charge penalty notice which subsequently went unpaid.
Durcan told the court he suffers from mobility issues due to a back injury. He claimed money was stolen from him after it fell out of his pocket. He asked security staff to investigate the matter as he saw a woman pick up the money and disappear into a tent.
The defendant said he became annoyed and frustrated when he was told there was nothing they could do about it but he denied he was abusive or intoxicated. Durcan told the court that he and a friend were asked to leave which, he claimed, they did.
The accused also rejected Gda Doherty's evidence that he had to remove him from a bus. Durcan said he went on the bus to ask the driver if he could take them to Castlebar but was told the bus was going to Cong.
When questioned by defending solicitor Aileen Feely, Gda Doherty said Durcan mentioned that €20 was stolen from him and he told him he would look into it and asked him to make a statement.
Appealing for the case to be dismissed, Ms Feely said her client was upset and angry that no member of the security staff or the gardaí wanted to help him retrieve his money and there was no evidence from any members of the public or security personnel to say he was abusive.
However, Judge Sandra Murphy said she was satisfied that the State had proven its case and convicted Durcan of intoxication in a public place. The judge imposed a fine of €450.
- Published as part of the Courts Reporting Scheme.
