A Donegal man with a “litany” of previous convictions who took a taxi from Sligo to Muff and didn’t pay the fare has appeared in court on several charges.
Francis Kelly was before Letterkenny District Court in connection with several public order incidents as well as a failure to pay the taxi fare.
A probation and welfare report was directed for Kelly, a 37-year-old of Glentoskert, Culkeeny, Malin who is now residing in Bundoran.
Details of the charges against Kelly were outlined to the court by Sergeant Jim Collins.
Sergeant Collins told the court that, at 9pm on January 3, 2019, Kelly hired a taxi from Frances Reynolds in Sligo. He took a taxi to Muff at a cost of €150, but got out without making payment. Kelly was then seen in a licensed premises in what was said to be a “highly intoxicated state” and was being abusive to female members of staff.
Kelly was also charged with several public order incidents, relating to matters in Letterkenny on October 30, 2023; November 1, 2023; November 28, 2023; November 29, 2023; and December 12, 2023.
On November 29, 2023, Gardai received a call from staff at the Central Library in relation to Kelly, who was highly intoxicated, being loud and causing annoyance.
Gardai responded to a call from staff at Sister Saras on December 22, 2023. Staff reported that Kelly was causing an annoyance and being aggressive to staff before being removed from the premises. The accused was found sleeping on a picnic bench outside when gardai arrived.
Sergeant Collins outlined that Kelly has a “litany” of previous with 122 convictions.
Mr Frank Dorrian, solicitor for Kelly, said his client has been beset by “ chronic and unmanageable addiction”.
“All offences have the same genesis,” Mr Dorrian said. He said the defendant began a process of rehabilitation in 2017, but that has not appeared to have worked at all.
Mr Dorrian said Kelly has recently engaged with Alcoholics Anonymous and it was 74 days since his last drink.
“If you take alcohol out of the litany of offending, there would be no offending,” Mr Dorrian said. “He was hopelessly and helplessly intoxicated.
“He is doing his competent best to address the problem. He is well motivated and it is going to kill him if he does not do something about it.”
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham said that courts around the country have given Kelly the benefit of fines “but that does not seem to be any deterrent”.
While Judge Cunningham accepted that Kelly has an illness and is a chronic addict, she said that other people have been affected and noted relevant previous in a taxi fare not being paid.
Judge Cunningham directed that a probation and welfare report be prepared and adjourned the matter until May 12, 2025.
Kelly faces some other charges, including one of criminal damage, which are due to be heard on March 25, 2025.