Publican fined after foul-mouthed attack on Gardai at 2.45am

A Kerrykeel publican has been fined a total of €650 after he launched a foul-mouthed tirade at Gardai during a 2.45am raid of his premises.

Martin Coyle verbally abused Gardai at the Village Inn, Kerrykeel when Gardai called on June 14, 2021.

The accused was before Letterkenny District court charged with six counts of selling intoxicating liquor after hours.

He was also charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour in a public place and he faced a further charge of being intoxicated in a public place.

When Gardai arrived, the music stopped and people were seen exiting via the rear door.

Coyle, a 45-year-old father-of-two, came out the front door and told Gardai: “F*** off, you useless shower of c****.”

“There was an exchange and he basically told Gardai to clear off and who are you to be telling me what to do,” Sergeant Jim Collins told the court.

Coyle has previous convictions for offences contrary to the licensing laws, Sergeant Collins said.

Solicitor for Coyle, Mr Kieran Dillon, said his client had expressed remorse and had apologised to the Gardai.

“There was a birthday celebration that went on longer than it should have,” Mr Dillon said.

“This was a particular set of circumstances exacerbated by his behaviour.”

Mr Dillon said his client endured difficulty with the closure of his business during the Covid-19 pandemic. Coyle, his solicitor said, had suffered a very serious assault in 2012 and the lockdown affected his well-being.

“He acted in a way that he shouldn't have,” Mr Dillon said.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham said she was concerned by Coyle's previous convictions and also the behaviour on the night.

For unlawfully permitting multiple occupants to be on the premises, Judge Cunningham fined Coyle €500.

Coyle was also fined €150 for the using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace may be occasioned.

In each instance, Coyle was given five months to pay while other matters were marked as taken into consideration by Judge Cunningham.