A CO Donegal man who rarely drinks got so drunk on a Christmas Party night out that he told a garda: “I’ll draw blood.”
Joseph Patton, who is 33 and from Creevery, Rathmullan, pleaded guilty through his solicitor to two public order offences relating to a night out three weeks ago.
In her evidence Gda Genevieve Sherlock said Patton was spotted in a verbal dispute with another male on Ramelton Road, Letterkenny, in the early hours of December 18 last.
She said Patton swung his arm out in an attempt to strike the other man and gardaí had to grab Patton to prevent another attempted assault.
Gda Sherlock said Patton was given the option of leaving the area but he refused to do so.
Patton then began running towards the other man again shouting: “I’ll get you, I’ll draw your blood.”
She said Patton was arrested and told her: “I’ll draw blood.”
Inspector Michael Harrison told Judge Paul Kelly that Mr Patton was very apologetic after the incident and had returned to the garda station the next day and waited for Gda Sherlock to begin her shift so he could apologise in person.
Defence solicitor Patsy Gallagher said Patton “doesn’t normally drink” and the incident was behaviour which was “totally out of the blue”.
Mr Gallagher added: “He is very remorseful and cannot account for his behaviour other than he is a man not used to drinking to excess and he had been out on a Christmas party. He is not a man who has been before the court before and he is not someone who will be back here either.”
Judge Kelly applied the Probation Act, ordering Patton to make a €150 donation to Pieta House Letterkenny by February 6.