Called Portlaoise Gardai ‘lowly civil servants’

A man who called gardai ‘lowly civil servants’ after being denied entry to a Portlaoise nightclub may avoid a conviction. 

Litha Zondani, 23, of 73 Rossvale, Portlaoise was arrested for public order offences at Top Square, Portlaoise on February 11 last. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the man had been denied entry to a nightclub and was aggressive and highly abusive to gardai when they attended. The man told gardai to F off and said he was going nowhere when asked to leave. 

Sgt Kirby said he “called them lowly civil servants” and said, “you can’t even arrest me.”  He said the man had no previous convictions. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client was 23 and not presently working. He said the man would say he does not normally go out and he had brought a letter of apology to the court. 

He said the man had left the club momentarily and when he tried to reenter, door staff noticed he was “under the weather” and refused him entry. 

“He should have simply taken the chance that gardai had offered him,” said Mr Meagher. 

“He does apologise and is very ashamed of his actions,” Mr Meagher added.  He said the man had brought €300 to court. 

“Perhaps the court might be minded to leaving him without a conviction,” said Mr Meagher. 

Judge Andrew Cody ordered the €300 be given to the Cara Curley Fund and said if a further  €200 was donated by June 15 he would strike out the charges.