Jail spell for attempting to hit Portlaoise bus driver

A man who became abusive and attempted to hit a bus driver was sentenced to two months in prison.

David Condon, 31, of 32 Mountain View Square, Portlaoise admitted a charge of assault and using threatening and abusive behaviour at JFL Avenue in Portlaoise on March 20, 2020. 

Solicitor Barry  Fitzgerald said his client, who appeared in court via videolink from prison, was entering a guilty plea to the charges. 

Sgt JJ Kirby said the incident occurred at 4.40pm in the day. He said the bus driver knows the defendant who has 87 previous convictions. 

Sgt Kirby said that while the man faced a Section 2 assault charge it related to an attempt to strike the driver. “He didn’t actually connect,” he explained. 

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client is serving a two year sentence for burglary. He said the man has a significant addiction history and “simply doesn’t remember” the incident. 

However, “he accepts that what is said in the summons is correct,” he said.  Mr Fitzgerald said his client accepts that his behaviour was unacceptable.   

Noting the early guilty plea, Judge Andrew Cody said he would sentence the man to two months on the assault charge and take the second charge into consideration. He told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court that the sentence would commence from the date of the court hearing.