A man who obstructed firefighters as they tried to put out a Halloween bonfire and told a garda to “go f*** himself” has admitted to smoking cannabis the night before his court appearance.
Thomas Bacon (33), with an address at Davitt Park, Ballybrack, Co Dublin, has pleaded guilty to possessing diazepam without a prescription at his home on December 20, 2022, and to using threatening and abusive behaviour and failing to comply with a Garda direction at Kilbogget Park, Cabinteely, on October 31, 2020.
Dún Laoghaire District Court heard that on October 31, 2020, Bacon was part of a large group gathered at Kilbogget Park in Cabinteely, where a bonfire had been lit. Dublin Fire Brigade firefighters were attempting to extinguish the bonfire when Bacon stepped in their way.
Garda Robert Ryan directed Bacon to leave the area, but Bacon refused and became verbally abusive, telling the garda to “go f*** himself”. He was arrested for failing to comply with a garda direction and for using threatening and abusive behaviour in a public place.
He is also facing a separate charge for possessing diazepam without a prescription at his home on December 20, 2022. Mr Bacon told Judge Anne Watkin that this happened two years after he broke his leg and became addicted to the drugs due to pain he suffered during physiotherapy.
When asked about his current drug use, Bacon told the court he had used cocaine for 20 years but insisted he was now clean – before admitting he had smoked cannabis the night before the hearing.
“You’ve a long way to go if you want to stay out of jail,” Judge Watkin told him.
The case was adjourned to November 17 for a probation report and urine analysis.