A Letterkenny man has been fined after acting aggressively towards gardaí.
Richard Mawhinney, aged 25, of Burnside Letterkenny, appeared at Letterkenny District Court where he was charged with two public order offences.
Sergeant Jim Collins outlined the facts of the case against Mawhinney.
The court heard that Gardai were on patrol at Upper Main Street, Letterkenny at 4.10pm on June 18, 2023 when they observed Mawhinney ‘wandering up and down the street in an irate manner with his top off’.
When Gardai asked Mawhinney what was wrong, he became aggressive and told officers: “What the fuck are you doing? Doing fuck all.” Mawhinney continued to be aggressive and he was arrested.
On July 26, 2023, Gardai responded to an alleged row at Burnside at 11.44pm. On arrival, Gardai established that no-one wanted to make a formal complaint. Mawhinney was asked to leave the area in an orderly manner after Gardai were told by his father that he wasn’t welcome.
“He went outside and became very aggressive, shouting and roaring,” Sergeant Collins told the court.
Mr Rory O’Brien, the solicitor for Mawhinney, said his client was ‘feeling quite low in aspects of his life’ at these times and had ‘sought solace’ in alcohol.
Mr O’Brien said matters were ‘over as quickly as they started’ and said his client wished to convey an apology. “He has accepted his wrongdoing and has curbed his alcohol consumption,” Mr O’Brien said, adding that Mawhinney has gained employment in the agriculture sector recently.
“He says that has been the making of him,” Mr O’Brien told the court.
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham said she hoped that Mawhinney was taking these matters seriously. Mawhinney was convicted and fined €250.