Intoxicated and aggressive at Laois hospital 

A man was intoxicated  “highly aggressive” and “flailing his arms” in the Emergency Department of Portlaoise Hospital, a court was told. 

Patrick Carty (47) of Dublin Road, Athy, Co Kildare admitted being intoxicated and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at the Accident and Emergency department in the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise on January 11 last.

Garda Sergeant Jason Hughes gave details of the incident at the hospital during a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

He said gardaí were called to respond to reports of a man who “was highly aggressive” and “flailing his arms” at the hospital on the date in question. The court was told the man had 67 previous convictions. 

“People in the hospital don’t have to put up with that type of behaviour,” said Judge Andrew Cody as he sentenced the man, who wasn’t in court, to three months in prison for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour and taking the second charge into consideration.

However, a short time later Solicitor Aonghus McCarthy said the man had arrived by taxi and he appealed to the judge to reconsider the case. 

Mr McCarthy said his client has long standing issues with alcohol and had taken a large number of tablets on the date of the offence as he was “in a very dark place” at the time. 

“He is a gent who has had an awful lot of tragedy in his own life,” said Mr McCarthy. 

“He suffered another tragedy when he was told this morning that his cousin has passed away,” said Mr McCarthy in explanation of his absence from the court.

Mr McCarthy said the maximum sentence had been applied for the offence of threatening and abusive behaviour and he appealed for leniency. 

On hearing the circumstances, Judge Cody decided to fine the man €300 and to suspend the three month sentence for two years. He granted legal aid to Mr McCarthy.