This article is from page 12 of the 2014-10-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
A CHARITY worker who verbally abused gardaí as they dealt with a f ght in Scariff has avoided an imme diate jail sentence. At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Darren Steele (44), originally from Cork but with a former address at Bohatch, Mountshannon, pleaded guilty to public order and drugs offences.
He pleaded guilty to public intoxication and engaging in behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace at the Square, Scariff on May 16, 2014.
He also pleaded guilty to possession of a small quantity of cannabis at Killaloe Garda Station on May 16.
Mr Steele further admitted an intoxication charge on June 4.
Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court gardaí were called to deal with a row outside a pub in Scariff on May 16.
He said they found a number of people in the area including Mr Steele.
The court heard the accused was drunk and proceeded to remonstrate with gardaí.
Insp Kennedy said Mr Steele told the gardaí to f*** off and called them a waste of space.
He was arrested and brought to Killaloe Garda Station where a small amount of cannabis was found on his person.
Insp Kennedy said Mr Steele has 124 previous convictions, mainly for public order offences.
Mr Steele told the court he was drunk and did not even know he had cannabis in his pocket.
Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client was out for a night in East Clare and found himself on the edge of a f ght. “He was watching this and he tried to tell gardaí what he saw”, Mr Hassett said.
“He didn’t need to do that. The gardaí saw plenty”, Mr Hassett added.
The court heard Mr Steele, a father of three, “battled the drink for years” and was homeless for a period in Cork.
Mr Hassett said his client has secured accommodation and volunteers with the Simon Community in Cork, often serving meals to the homeless.
He asked the court to consider a suspended sentence.
Judge Durcan imposed a 10-week sentence on the breach of the peace charge.
He suspended the sentence on condition Mr Steele enters into a bond to be law abiding.
Mr Steele entered into the bond.