Galway man abused people and staff in Laois hotel foyer
Portlaoise Courthouse
A DISTRICT court judge asked whether staff from a Portlaoise hotel would be willing to engage in a Restorative Justice Programme to inform a man who had caused a disturbance in the hotel of how his actions had affected them.
Judge Susan Fay made the enquiry when Bernard Sweeney (45), Droim Chaoin, Rahoon, Galway appeared before her at Portlaoise District Court, where he pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at the Midlands Park hotel, Portlaoise on 24 March.
The court heard that gardaí responded to a call about a public order incident taking place in the hotel. On arrival, they came across the defendant in a very irate state abusing people and staff in the hotel foyer.
The court was told that Mr Sweeney had 37 previous convictions.
Defending solicitor Philip Meagher said that on the day, his client had been at a nephew’s wedding and that people had bought him rounds of drink.
He said: “He accepts that drink does not suit him. The following day, he went back to the hotel and apologised to the staff for his actions the previous night.” Judge Fay said: “This hotel and its staff were trying to provide a service and trying to do their business. It’s concerning to the court to see this sort of behaviour. The staff were just trying to do their work and this carry-on has impacts on those people who were just trying to run a business.” Judge Fay remanded Mr Sweeney on continuing bail to the 6 July sitting of the court and instructed that he takes part in the Restorative Justice Programme.
She asked gardaí to canvas management and/or staff from the hotel to enquire from them whether they would be willing to engage in the programme to inform Mr Sweeny of how his behaviour affected them at the time.
