Man who could barely stand became frustrated at court wait

A 41-year-old man appeared at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court earlier this year so drunk he could “barely stand,” the court heard.

Kevin Higgins of Cattan, Mohill, Co. Leitrim, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and a danger to himself at the courthouse on January 17 this year.

Sergeant Lisa Sewell outlined that Higgins was so drunk that day he could “barely stand in court” and there “was a very strong smell of alcohol off him.” He was then arrested and charged with the Public Order offence.

Defending, Mr Martin Burke, said Higgins was a 41 year old man who lived alone and “had a lot of struggles with alcohol.”
He said Higgins was in court that day to deal with other charges and was “finding the stress and strain to be particularly difficult.”

“He told me his house had burned down and he had no insurance. I told him to go and get assistance from the Housing Association. On the way, he consumed quite a bit of alcohol. He was frustrated at the wait in court. He was giving out to the Gardaí,” he told Judge Murphy.

The court heard Higgins rang the Gardaí the next day to apologise.

Judge Murphy adjourned his case to allow Higgins time to gather a €150 fine and to finalise matters.