The Ocean Court where McGuinness went bonkers
A CARNDONAGH man who was ‘out of his mind with drink’ grabbed a statute of Buddha and chucked a table over the counter of a Chinese takeaway, the local district court has heard.
Inspector David Murphy told the district court that Gardai were called to the Ocean Court in the Diamond in Carn on May 26 last year.
The owner of the premises was standing outside waiting for officers.
Inspector Murphy said gardai had found McGuinness “out of his mind with drink” inside the takeaway.
The owner complained that McGuinness, from Churchtown in Carndonagh and who will be 28 next Sunday, had grabbed a statute of Buddha, was roaring and shouting and had just thrown a table over the counter.
Inspector Murphy said that McGuinness had also taken his trousers down. He handed in still images taken from the takeaway’s CCTV cameras showing this and the other offences.
McGuinness admitted being intoxicated in a public place, using threatening and abusive language and criminal damage.
It took the inspector some time to go over McGuinness’s previous criminal record which included several convictions for assault.
Solicitor Frank Dorrian told Judge Paul Kelly: “The recurring pattern with this man is one of alcohol abuse; he has little or no recollection of what went on during this incident. It is inexplicable as to what he was doing.
“He had been drinking vodka around the clock at that time.”
Mr Dorrian said however that McGuinness’s life had now changed. He was no longer drinking and was getting support at AA meetings.
He was determined to continue with this new life and had brought €186 to court to pay for the damage done to the restaurant.
Judge Kelly ordered a probation and community service report to monitor McGuinness’s progress and adjourned sentence until January 20.