Drunk man believed his pal was on lamp-post

A man was so intoxicated that he had hallucinations on the street and believed his friend was hiding on top of a street light.

Garda Denis O’Callaghan was on duty at Clontarf St, Cork, at 2.30am on January 22, when he came across the unusual sight of a man looking up a lamp-post expecting to see his friend on top off it.

Garda O’Callaghan noticed Denis Hassett, was highly intoxicated and staggering on the footpath.

“He was looking up the lamp-post. I then observed he was pointing up the lamp-post. He said to me that his friend was hiding on top of the light.

“He was obviously hallucinating. There was nobody else present in the area.”

Garda O’Callaghan arrested him and brought him to Bridewell Garda Station.

Inspector Brian O’Donovan said the accused had a number of public order convictions. Hassett, aged 24, with an address at the Mill House, Cork Simon Community, pleaded guilty to being drunk and a source of danger on the night.

Eddie Burke, solicitor, said: “He is in custody on other matters. He is a young man with a chronic alcohol addiction. He is getting some counselling services for his problems in custody.”

Judge John King imposed a €200 fine or five days in prison in default of payment.