Drunk man was walking in road with a bottle of wine in his hand when gardai arrived

A highly intoxicated man who was walking along a main road in Inishowen with a bottle of wine in his hand has been fined €300 for public drunkenness.

Christopher Villa, of 21 Ballyarnett Village, Derry, faced a charge of intoxication in a public place at the latest sitting of Buncrana District Court.

The 36-year-old defendant did not show up in court to answer the charge, which related to an incident near Grove Filling Station in Bridgend last year.

However, Judge Emile Daly directed the case to go ahead, after being informed that the State was ready to proceed with the prosecution, and that the defendant was on notice to appear.

Garda Patrick Doherty, of Buncrana Garda Station, testified in court.

He said he was on duty on Saturday, March 22, 2025, when he responded to a call, which had reported that an intoxicated male was seen walking along the main road in Bridgend.

Garda Doherty arrived at the scene and spoke with the man, who was Christopher Villa, of the above address.

Mr Villa was slurring his speech and was unsteady on his feet, while he was carrying a bottle of wine at the time.

“He appeared to have fallen, due to his level of intoxication, because his trousers were ripped,” Garda Doherty further explained.

At that stage, Mr Villa was arrested under Section 24 of the Public Order Act for an offence contrary to Section 4 of the same act.

“I deemed him to be a danger to himself,” the Garda witness added.

Mr Villa was cautioned and brought back to Buncrana Garda Station. A fixed penalty notice was later issued in respect of the offence, but it went unpaid, and the matter progressed to court as a consequence.

Sgt Conor Mulkerns said the postal fine, had the defendant paid it, would have been €100, rising to €150 for late payment.

Judge Daly convicted Mr Villa of public intoxication and imposed a fine of €300, with four months to pay.