‘John Wayne’ set free

A drunken would-be cowboy was told by a judge yesterday that he was too old to be put across his mother’s knee to have his bottom slapped.

The 17-year-old appeared at a sitting of the juvenile court at Cork District Court where it emerged he told an arresting detective his name was John Wayne.

The incident occurred in the Grange area of Cork last May.

Det Garda Seán Minihane approached the teenager about his drunken behaviour and asked the youth his name. The teenager claimed he was John Wayne and became aggressive.

The teenager pleaded guilty to being drunk and a source of danger to himself or others and being threatening and abusive.

The judge gave the youth the benefit of a dismissal under the Probation of Offenders Act.

Judge Tim Lucey said: “He is 17. In another year he will be an adult. If he continues like this he will find himself in prison.

“His mother cannot be putting him across her lap and slapping his bottom. He is too old.” He told the youth: “You are on your last chance.”