Judge serves prison sentence to man who threatened to destroy Athy restaurant
Man gets nine months for abusing and threatening in Athy's popular pasteria.
A CONVICT who appeared in court from custody to be sentenced for being drunk and disorderly on Christmas Eve, and for threatening to vandalise a restaurant he was barred from, was sentenced to nine months in prison.
However, the judge dangled the carrot of rehabilitation after hearing the man’s story by ordering this sentence run concurrent to his present incarceration, thereby not extending his stay any longer.
Stephen Martin (33), presently of No Fixed Abode, but formerly of Rheban Manor, Athy, was in Athy District Court to face sentence on both counts.
“On 24 December, 2024 he was reported to gardaí at a party at 5am. He was found so intoxicated that he was unable to look after himself,” said Sergeant Dave Hanrahan.
“It was a friend’s house,” said the defendant ruefully.
“Then on 26 November he entered a restaurant on Duke Street in Athy and threatened staff saying: ‘I’ll come back here with 20 pals and destroy the place’,” revealed the sergeant.
“Why?” asked the judge.
“I was barred,” smiled the defendant.
“It was two o’clock in the afternoon,” clarified the sergeant.
“I was fightin’ with me partner, then somebody said somethin’…” said Martin.
“I’m still with her, and she’s pregnant now!” he said proudly.
“How did she get pregnant when you were in prison?” enquired the judge.
“I was out in November for 10 weeks,” he smiled.
“This man is super-human!” declared the judge.
Then the sergeant told the judge that Martin had 162 previous convictions.
“162 convictions, not proud,” said the judge.
“I’ve had problems with alcohol all me life,” said the defendant, though he denied illicit drugs when the judge asked him.
The judge then revealed that Martin had written to the court in which he apologised, and said “he lost his grandmother, and leant on alcohol as a crutch”.
“In fairness, he’s trying to deal with the alcoholism, and is doing exceptionally well, ” said his solicitor Chloe Donegan.
“He has difficulty dealing with his emotions, particularly grief,” she added.
“He seems fine here, but I wouldn’t like to see him when he’s drunk,” noted the judge.
Ms Donegan said her client was only five weeks in jail, with a release date in November, and that he had prospects as a qualified plasterer.
“They’re crying out for all the trade skills in Ireland,” said the judge, before sentencing him to nine months for making the threats in the restaurant, but ordering it commence “from today”.
