A 77-year-old offender with 470 previous convictions has been sentenced to two months in jail after he told Luas staff to ‘f**k off’ and called them ‘pricks’.
Paddy McCann, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty before Judge Anne Watkin at Dún Laoghaire District Court to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at Central Park Luas stop in Leopardstown, Dublin 18, on June 29.
The court heard that he repeatedly swore at Luas staff, telling them to “f**k off” and calling them “pricks”.
McCann was released on bail under a €500 recognisance and directed to appear before Court 4 at the Criminal Courts of Justice on July 14. However, he failed to attend court as required.
Three days later, on July 17, McCann was found extremely intoxicated on Lower George’s Street in Dún Laoghaire.
The court heard he had a bottle of Elit vodka, began shouting and cursing and became verbally aggressive towards people attempting to assist him.
He was arrested because of concerns for his safety and the safety of others.
McCann pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, being intoxicated in a public place under Section 4 of the Act, and failing to appear in court while on bail under Section 13 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
The court heard that McCann is also currently serving a three-month sentence for theft and public-order offences.
His solicitor, Andrew Vallely, said that McCann suffers from a myriad of medical issues and tended to be more cogent when sober.
Mr Vallely said his client did very well in custody and asked the court to impose any sentence concurrently, so that his existing three-month term would not be extended.
Judge Watkin noted that McCann had initially pleaded not guilty before changing his plea.
“That doesn’t help”, she said.
Judge Watkin sentenced him to two months in prison, to run concurrently with the three-month sentence he was already serving.