Man fined €450 after being deemed intoxicated at Ballinrobe Races

A 40-year-old man who was deemed to be intoxicated and a danger to himself and others was escorted from a race meeting in Ballinrobe by a member of An Garda Síochána.

Paul Durcan (40), Cloondeash, Ballinrobe Road, Castlebar, appeared before Castlebar District Court where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of intoxication in a public place while at the Ballinrobe Races on April 11, 2025.

Durcan had been requested to leave the racecourse by security staff following allegations that he had become abusive to security staff and racegoers and he was escorted from the course by Garda John Doherty at around 8 p.m.

Garda Doherty told the court that he was on traffic duty along the Ballinrobe to Castlebar Road when he observed Durcan walking through the traffic and he had to direct Durcan to stay off the road.

The court heard that on one occasion Durcan went onto a private bus and Garda Doherty had to physically remove him from it.

Garda Doherty said that Durcan was intoxicated to such an extent he might endanger himself or others and issued him with a fixed charge penalty notice which subsequently went unpaid.

Durcan told the court that he suffers from mobility issues due to a back injury.

He claimed money was stolen from him after it fell out of his pocket.

He asked security staff to investigate the matter as he saw a woman pick up the money he lost and disappear into a tent.

He became annoyed and frustrated when he was told there was nothing they could do about it but he denied he was abusive or intoxicated.

He said himself and a friend were asked to leave which, he said, they did and denied Garda Doherty's claim that he had to remove him from a bus.

Durcan said he went on the bus to ask the driver if he could take them to Castlebar but was told the bus was going to Cong.

When questioned by Ms. Aileen Feely, solicitor for the defendant, Garda Doherty accepted that Durcan mentioned that €20 was stolen from him and he told him he would look into it and asked him to make a statement.

Ms. Feely told the court her client was upset and angry that no member of the security staff or the gardaí went to help him retrieve his money and there was no evidence from members of the public or security to say he was abusive.

However, Judge Sandra Murphy said she was satisfied that the State had proved its case and convicted Durcan of intoxication in a public place.

Judge Murphy imposed a fine of €450.

* Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.