Man found asleep on road in Offaly was arrested for his own safety

An Offaly man, who had a quantity of cocaine on his person, was arrested for his own safety after Gardai came across him asleep on a public road.

David Downey, 18 Macregol Court, Birr was charged with intoxication in public, threatening behaviour and being in possession of a controlled drug for his own use.

Sergeant Brendan Kearns told a recent sitting sitting of Tullamore District Court that while on patrol in Scurragh, Birr on the 21st of October last the two Guards came across Mr Downey asleep.

“They woke him up and it became quickly obvious to them that he was very intoxicated. He was verbally abusive towards them. They arrested him for his own safety. They found a white power on his person and he admitted that it was cocaine, for his own use, worth €100.”

The Sergeant added that Mr Downey had 16 previous convictions four of which came under the Misuse of Drugs Act, including possession for sale or supply.

The defending solicitor Patrick Martin told the court that his client was pleading guilty.

Mr Martin pointed out that the defendant's previous drug offences dated back to, most recently, 2014.

“Mr Downey apologised to the Gardaí afterwards. He is 32 years of age and is an employee in a factory. On this particular day he had received bad news and he suffered a relapse in his behaviour, turning to drugs after years off them.”

Judge Andrew Cody convicted and fined €250 for the cocaine possession.

He also convicted and fined €250 for engaging in threatening behaviour.

The charge for intoxication in public was taken into consideration. Sergeant Kearns made an application for the destruction of the cocaine, which was granted by the Judge.