Accused blames drunken behaviour on free bar

A young man who got into a drunken disturbance blamed his behaviour on the fact that he was not used to the kind of night out where there was a free bar.

Judge John Coughlan remarked at Cork District Court: “It could happen to a bishop — or even a judge.”

Judge Coughlan made the quip in the course of the case against Anthony Dowling of 37 Plunkett Rad, Ballyphehane, Togher, Cork.

Dowling, aged 23, had recently started a job and there was a work night out. Defence solicitor Eddie Burke said Dowling had never experienced a free bar before and he overdid it.

The defendant ended up causing a disturbance at the Montenotte hotel and the gardaí were called to the area. He was later found to be drunk and a source of danger to himself or others and engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

Dowling was routinely searched at the Bridewell garda station and found to be in possession of cocaine for his own use.

Judge Coughlan noted that the defendant is in gainful employment and said he deserved a chance.

He fined him €500 for the threatening behaviour and said he would take all other charges — the drunkenness and the possession of drugs — into consideration at Cork District Court.