Judge warns Stranorlar man with 23 conviction to ‘break the cycle’

A Judge has warned a Stranorlar man with 23 previous convictions that he is in a ‘cycle that needs to be broken’.

Tristan McAteer was given the stern warning by Judge Éiteáin Cunningham when he appeared charged with public order offences.

Garda had to deploy pepper spray and handcuff McAteer during the incident at Kernan’s shop in Castlefin on January 19, 2024.

Sergeant Gerard Dalton told the court that gardai received a report of an altercation outside the shop. Upon their arrival, gardai observed McAteer who was said to become ‘aggressive and abusive’ to officers.

Sergeant Dalton said McAteer called gardai ‘a number of names’. He said McAteer ‘remained abusive and aggressive to gardai at all times’.

Mr Frank Dorrian, representing McAteer, said the accused, a 25-year-old of Hilltop Crescent, Drumboe, Stranorlar, has an underlying difficulty of alcohol abuse ‘and, on occasion, other substances’.

“HIs life has been peppered by visits to court,” Mr Dorrian said. “He realises that he can’t handle alcohol. One drink leads to another and he finds himself at the garda station at the end of these encounters.”

Mr Dorrian said McAteer is seeing a counsellor and attempting to get a place at White Oaks.

“As long as he finds himself drinking, he will find himself before the court,” Mr Dorrian said. “I asked him on one occasion when he was going to prison how long it would be after release when he would find himself in an off licence and he said: ‘Within an hour’. That attitude is now no longer present.”

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham asked for a probation report to include McAteer’s suitability for community service.

The case was adjourned until March 25.

“It’s a cycle that needs to be broken,” Judge Cunningham said.