A repeat offender who drunkenly threatened and abused staff at a Dublin Macari’s chipper has had his jail time suspended on appeal.
Dean McAuley (34), of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty in the District Court to using threatening and abusive language and being intoxicated in a public place contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994. He was sentenced to two months in custody with the last month suspended.
Garda Niamh McMunn told the District Court Appeals Court yesterday that she was called to the scene at Macari’s, Bridge Street, Balbriggan, Co Dublin on July 13, 2024 where Mr McAuley appeared to be intoxicated.
She said that she arrested him because she considered Mr McAuley to be a danger to himself and others and that Mr McAuley used threatening and abusive language towards the staff.
Mr McAuley has 17 previous convictions, including public order offences and assault.
Defence counsel for Mr McAuley, Róisín Burnside BL, said that her client had not come to Garda attention since the incident and that he had been suffering from an addiction to drugs and alcohol at the time.
Judge James O’Donohoe decided to fully suspend Mr McAuley’s two month custodial sentence.