Letterkenny man fined over weekend public order incidents

A Letterkenny man found drunk and asleep outside a shopping complex just hours after being released from Garda custody has appeared in court.

Jason Orr was brought before a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on Sunday for offences that occured over the weekend.

A 30-year-old of Cullion Road, Letterkenny, Orr was fined a total of €250.

Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that gardai were on point duty at Cullion Road, Letterkenny on June 22, 2024 at 11am.

Orr approached Garda McFadden who informed him that the pathway was closed to emergency use only,

Sergeant Collins informed the court that Orr responded, “what the fuck are you do?” and subsequently threatened to fight with persons at a nearby halting site.

Orr was arrested under the Public Order Act and a grinder containing €25 worth of cannabis was located during a search at Letterkenny District Court.

Subsequent to his release, gardai received a call about a highly intoxicated male laying asleep outside Letterkenny Shopping Centre.

Orr was arrested and said to have been “apologetic” when conveyed to the garda station.

Mr Patsy Gallagher, solicitor for Orr, said his client wished for the matters to be dealt with.

Mr Gallagher told the court that his client's situation is “quite unfortunate”.

“He was an alcoholic who was sober for three years,” Mr Gallagher said. “He had some difficulty.”

Mr Gallagher said that after the incident, “very unfortunate words were said to him which greatly upset him” were said to him by another party.

“Today, he is sober and remorseful,” Mr Gallagher said. “He slipped on the path of recovery and has accepted tha the has to start from ground zero. A phonecall has taken place and he understands the steps that he has to take.”

Mr Gallagher said his client is apologetic and has dealt with the matter at the first opportunity.

For the possession of cannabis, Orr was fined €100 and given five months to pay. For an offence under setion 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 – using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with the intention of causing a breach of the peace – Orr was fined €150 and give five months to pay.

A charge of being intoxicated in a public place was marked as taken into consideration.