guilty plea Drunk man in church punched cars and spat blood at gardaí, court hears

A REPEAT public order offender caught lying drunk on a church floor and punching cars on a street in separate incidents began spitting blood and calling gardaí names when they tried to help him.

Cathal Doolin's life had been "blighted by drink" that led to an alcohol-induced stroke and partial paralysis, a court heard.

Judge Bryan Smyth adjourned his case for a pre-sentence probation report after Doolin admitted to a series of public order offences.

Doolin (53), of no fixed address and formerly of Glenmore Drive, Drogheda, Co Louth, pleaded guilty to public drunkenness and threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour.

Dublin District Court heard gardaí responded to a call to St Bernadette's Church, Clogher Road, Crumlin on September 4, 2019.

The accused was intoxicated outside the church and a priest told gardaí Doolin had been lying on the ground inside.

He was slurring his words, told gardaí he did not need any assistance and became verbally abusive towards them, "calling them names", a garda sergeant said.

Staggering

Separately, at 9.40pm on September 19 last year, gardaí found the accused staggering from side to side on the Navan Road. He was falling, unable to stand and had blood on his face.

Doolin again began calling gardaí names, cursing at them and members of the public.

When they tried to assist him, he began spitting blood from his mouth.

At 6.48pm on January 24 this year, gardaí found the accused in the roadway at College Street, punching the windows of vehicles.

They guided him to the footpath and he swiped at them, using abusive language. He had to be restrained and arrested.

He also admitted stealing cans of beer from a shop on O'Connell Street on August 15.

Doolin had a number of previous convictions and had been given a suspended sentence for an earlier offence.

The accused's life had been "blighted by drink", which culminated in a stroke and paralysis to his right hand side, his solicitor Matthew De Courcy said.

He was now in Dublin city centre accommodation, not drinking and "doing very well".

Judge Smyth adjourned the case to a date in February for a probation report and further submissions in mitigation.

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