‘Incredible artist’ has a blind spot for alcohol, Carlow court is told
Carlow Courthouse Photo: Michael O'Rourke
SENTENCING was adjourned in Carlow District Court so that a probation report could be compiled in the case of a local man, Conor Mullins, who pleaded guilty to two public order offences. The two offences were a section 4 for public intoxication and a section 6 offence for engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place.
The court heard that on 13 July at 11.52pm, gardaí were on patrol on Dublin Street, Carlow town when they saw a visibly intoxicated man shouting at passers-by. Gardaí approached Mr Mullins (42), who then started to shout obscenities and verbally abused them.
The court heard that from the outset of their interaction, Mr Mullins was aggressive towards the gardaí so he was eventually arrested and brought to Carlow Garda Station.
Judge Andrew Gubbins heard that Mr Mullins of Dun as Rí, Ballycarney, Green Road, Carlow had 22 previous convictions, the most recent being a section 4 public order offence of public intoxication, for which he was ordered to pay a €250 at Carlow District Court on 3 June. Out of his 22 previous convictions, 13 were for section 4 offences and two were for section 6 offences.
Defence solicitor Joe Farrell told the court that most of his client’s previous convictions occurred over five years ago. He said that his client was “an incredible artist, articulate and clever, when sober” but that alcohol was Mr Mullins’s “blind spot”. Mr Farrell added that Mr Mullins was aware he has a problem with alcohol and knew that he needed to do something about it, and that he was accompanied in court by his mother.
Judge Gubbins said that given the number of section 4 offences that Mr Mullins had accumulated, he would probably have to impose a custodial sentence that may be suspended. He asked Mr Farrell if his client was willing to go for a probation report, and after convening with his client, Mr Farell said that his client was willing to engage with the probation services.
There was then laughter in the court as Mr Farrell incorrectly said that there was not a probation officer present, before spotting one and saying: “Speaking of blind spots.” Mr Mullins’s case was adjourned to 10 December and he was remanded on continuing bail.
