Laois man told to get treatment or face prison

A man who told gardaí to f**k off was warned he was going to prison if he didn’t get treatment. 

Gordon Bergin (49) of The Lodge, Danganroe, Castletown, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at Ballycleary, Castletown on March 11 last. 

Garda Digan said the defendant was having a dispute with his sister when gardaí arrived. He said the defendant “then became abusive towards gardai and his sister.”

“He told them to f**k off before and after arrest,” Garda Digan said. He said the man was heavily intoxicated. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said “the kernel of the issue here, as it always is, is alcohol.”  

“He went quietly once you told him he was under arrest,” she said. 

The sitting of Portlaoise District Court  was told the defendant had 53 previous convictions. 

Judge Andrew Cody noted the man had 12 for public order in the past two years. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said the goal for the defendant was to get residential treatment and she has been assisting him in trying  to access treatment. She said there is a waiting list and he was told to keep phoning every day. 

Judge Cody told the man that he has “run out of road” with the court. He released him on bail to June 5 to finalise the case and said he would be going to prison if he hadn't secured residential treatment. 

Judge Cody also warned the man that he would end up in prison if he committed any offences in the meantime.