Man shouted abuse at Portlaoise fast food staff

A man who shouted racist abuse outside a fast food restaurant in Portlaoise will be assessed for community service suitability. 

Paul Coyne 51, of 29 Old Forge Crescent, Mountrath admitted to being intoxicated and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour when he appeared before a sitting of Portlaoise District Court this week.  

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client “would probably have a limited recollection” of the night. She explained that it had been his first real night out following the Covid lockdown. “He was drinking spirits which just don’t suit him,” she told the court.   

Sgt Sean Keane said the defendant was on Main Street outside a fast-food outlet “calling them foreign bastards” and when Gardai arrived he was “telling us to f**k off.”  

Judge John King noted that “there is a racist element to this.” Ms Fitzpatrick insisted “that would not generally be in his nature” to which Judge King replied, “in vino veritas”. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client had started a new job shuttering on Monday. She said he had written a letter of apology and was pleading guilty on the first day and he had “gathered up €200” in compensation. 

On hearing the man had 13 previous offences and was born in 1970, Judge King said “he is nearly as old as me.”   Ms Fitzpatrick said her client’s last offence dated back to 2018. 

Judge King remanded the defendant on continuing bail and directed that a community service report be compiled for the court. “If suitable, 100 hours CSO in lieu of 60 days,” he stated. The man is due to appear again at Portlaoise District Court on May 26.