A young man who refused to leave the lobby of a Co Donegal hotel after claiming his friend had booked and paid for a room has been ordered to make a donation to charity.
Hubert Curley appeared at Letterkenny District Court after being charged with a breach of the peace.
The court heard how the 18-year old refused to leave the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny on June 22nd last.
Gardai were called after staff claimed a man was acting aggressively and would not leave the hotel.
The court was told that Curley, of Camla, Taughmaconnell, Co Roscommon was visiting Donegal for the Donegal International Rally but was not registered at the hotel.
His solicitor, Mr Frank Dorrian, said his client’s friend had paid for the room and he had arranged to stay with him.
He said “He simply had nowhere to go and his friend had agreed he could stay in his hotel room which he had already paid for.”
However, Judge Eiteain Cunningham said she did not accept the argument.
She said that hotels and staff must be aware of how many people are staying in each room for fire safety regulations.
The court was told that Curley had not come to the attention of Gardai since and he had no previous convictions.
Judge Cunningham said that if Curley paid a €250 donation to St Vincent de Paul then he could avoid a conviction.
She set a default of a €350 fine.