Man so drunk after watching match in Offaly pub he started taking clothes off upstairs thinking he was home

A MAN got so drunk in a Tullamore pub on the day of the Ireland/England rugby match in March that he went upstairs to a private apartment thinking it was his own home.

The local District Court heard that Conor Kavanagh, who must pay €2,500 to avoid jail, smeared blood in his cell after being arrested.

Details of what happened at the Newtown Bar in the early hours of March 19 last were outlined to Judge Andrew Cody.

Mr Kavanagh (30), Spollanstown Wood, Tullamore, pleaded guilty to assaulting Keelan Feery and trespassing in the Newtown Bar.

He also admitted public drunkenness and a breach of the peace at Market Square and criminal damage at the Garda Station.

Sergeant Richard Thornton told the court that gardai received a report of a male being highly intoxicated and refusing to leave the Newtown Bar, Church Street.

On arrival they found that Conor Kavanagh was banging at Market Square trying to gain entrance to the Newtown Bar.

He was highly intoxicated and aggressive and had no shirt or shoes on. Earlier he had been found upstairs in private property in the Newtown Bar banging doors and putting a resident in fear.

He had refused to leave and when the gardai arrested him he called them “useless c...s” and was placed in a cell where he continuously banged the door causing his hand to bleed. He then smeared blood on the walls and spat on the cell door.

Sergeant Thornton added that Mr Kavanagh had no previous convictions.

Defending solicitor Donal Farrelly described the case as a very sad one involving a 30-year-old salesman who previously had an impeccable record.

He went out for the day to watch a rugby match between Ireland and England and had drunk a lot without eating anything.

Mr Farrelly said his client was so consumed with alcohol that he has almost total amnesia. It appeared he ended going up into the apartment upstairs and went to the toilet thinking it was his own house he was so intoxicated.

The solicitor produced letters in court to be handed to the injured parties and he apologised for the distress he had caused to the person in their own home.

In the letter to that person, he said they should never have come into contact with something like that and he should have known better himself because he had worked in a bar for a number of years and had to deal with intoxicated people and understood what it's like to deal with them.

Sergeant Thornton said a statement had been received from the owner of the bar, Kevin Cleary, about how afraid he was of Mr Kavanagh because of his aggression and intoxication. A guest in the apartment was terrified.

Sergeant Thornton said the assault victim, Keelan Feery, a barman in the pub, had said that Mr Kavanagh was refused service at about 12.20am and then called the barman a “fat prick” and “useless c...”

He refused to leave the pub and threatened Mr Feery, saying: “I'll get you.”

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Mr Cleary and Mr Feery got the man out onto Market Square and Mr Kavanagh tried to spit at Mr Feery's face but missed and got his shoulder.

Mr Farrelly said it was a dreadful experience for all who dealt with his client that night and stressed that Mr Kavanagh was extremely ashamed and embarrassed.

He was also extremely apologetic and asked for the opportunity to pay some compensation.

When Judge Cody put it to Mr Farrelly that there had been a series of incidents, not just one, the solicitor said it was fortunate that no one was injured.

His client had thought he was in his own home and started taking off his clothes. Though it was no excuse, he had been very drunk.

Judge Cody asked Mr Farrelly how much compensation he had in mind, stressing that even though the assault on Mr Feery was not a serious one, it was not pleasant to get spit on the shoulder.

Mr Farrelly said €1,000 was being offered, either for charity or in compensation.

Judge Cody said convictions like those facing Mr Kavanagh could drag behind him like a ball and chain so he would offer him the opportunity to pay €500 to Mr Feery and €2,000 to a charity nominated by Mr Feery.

The money must be paid by October 4 next, the judge added.

Asked if that would leave his client without a conviction, Judge Cody said that after October 4 he would put the matter back for another nine months and then consider striking it out this time next year.