Convicted man gets €903 welfare a week, court hears

A man found lying drunk in the middle of the road is in receipt of €903 social welfare a week.

Totting up Martin McDonagh’s total social welfare income, District Judge Bridget Reilly explained to Tallaght Court that McDonagh would have to earn more than €100,000 a year to end up with an income of €903 a week after tax.

Judge Reilly also said McDonagh had two houses which could have a rental income of €1,000 each a month.

The court heard that at 7.30am on September 19 last, gardaí went to the Greenhills Road on foot of a report that a man was lying on the road.

McDonagh, 40, Montpelier View, Tallaght, admitted to public drunkenness and failing to provide a garda with his name and address.

Sergeant Bernard Jones said McDonagh had been a danger to traffic and was heavily intoxicated.

Sgt Jones said McDonagh had 42 previous convictions. On February 17, 2011, he received a three-month sentence suspended for two years for breaching the peace. He also has a number of convictions for no insurance.

McDonagh’s lawyer, Padraig O’Donovan, said he had psychiatric difficulties and had been going through a period of self-harm.

Judge Reilly commented: “He has two houses and seven children.” She also noted that there were “medical cards for all the family”.

Judge Reilly said: “He and his family are being supported by the State. His alcohol abuse is significant. The amount of no-insurance convictions shows a blatant disregard for the law.”

She sentenced McDonagh to three months in jail, suspended for a year.