The late intervention of a Donegal solicitor helped a defendant escape without a conviction.
A man before Ballyshannon District Court on a public order charge opted to represent himself.
He was charged in connection with an incident in November on Quay Street, Donegal Town. He faced a charge of being intoxicated in a public place, contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994.
“I fell out with a girl over a bag of chips,” the accused man told Judge Michael Connellan, who told the defendant: “It could be an expensive bag of chips”.
Inspector Michael Doherty told the court that gardai were alerted to a disturbance. Officers met with and spoke to the man, whose speech was slurred.
A fixed charge penalty notice was issued, but was not paid, the court heard.
The court was informed that the man has nine previous convictions.
Solicitor Mr Rory O’Brien then stepped in to represent the man.
“He apologises and obviously he should have paid the fixed charge notice,” Mr O’Brien said.
The solicitor then informed the court that the matter was being presented in the wrong court area.
“This is a Donegal Town matter and is in the wrong area,” he said.
Inspector Doherty accepted the comment and the charge was struck out.