Finished night in garda station after argument over Seven Oaks Hotel room
Carlow courthouse
A MAN who booked into a Carlow hotel to watch a Katie Taylor fight ended the night in a garda cell after a row over his room, Carlow District Court has heard.
David Giltrap (57) pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in a public place at the Seven Oaks Hotel on Saturday 5 September.
The court heard that gardaí responded to a call about an intoxicated male on the premises. When they arrived, they found the defendant highly intoxicated and unsteady on his feet. He was arrested and brought to Carlow Garda Station.
Mr Giltrap has eight previous convictions, including one for a public order offence.
His solicitor, Chris Hogan, told the court: “There is a history.” He explained that his client had been staying at the hotel to watch the Katie Taylor fight and had been drinking wine, having previously given up alcohol for a while. That, combined with not having eaten that day, led to his intoxicated state.
“There was an argument about his room, he wasn’t happy with it,” Mr Hogan said.
The solicitor added that his client had emailed the hotel manager to apologise and had also dropped a letter of apology into the garda station. He pointed out that Mr Giltrap, 24 Bayview, Dunmore East, Waterford, had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
Mr Hogan said his client, who is not working, had brought €500 to court as a poor box donation.
Judge Geraldine Carthy noted the aggravating factor of the previous conviction. She convicted Mr Giltrap of the section 4 public order offence and fined him €500, with four months to pay.
A second charge under section 6 of the of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, was withdrawn.
