Drunk lying on road in front of Limerick graveyard

“NEXT time, you could be lying inside the graveyard,” Judge Mary Larkin told  a Newcastle West man who was found lying drunk in the middle of the road near a graveyard in the town.  

Before the court was Tim Cussen, 10 Castleview, Newcastle  West who pleaded to being intoxicated in a public place at Churchtown, Newcastle West on March 18.

Inspector Andrew Lacey told the court that on that date gardai got calls about a man lying full-length on the road near the graveyard. He was in a highly intoxicated state, the inspector said.

Pleading for her client, solicitor Kate Cussen said he had asked her to apologise.

“What if a car drove over him and he received serious injuries or was killed,” Judge Larkin said. “Obviously he had a death wish but what about the poor person who might drive over him.?”  What is he going to do about his drinking, she asked. 

“He has an ongoing problem with drink,” Ms Cussen said but argued that “this really was a lapse”.

“Isn’t he lucky to be here to tell me about it,” the judge said, imposing a €200 fine.