fine issued 'Submerged' drunk had to be pulled out of canal waters, court hears

Andrius Rudaitis of no fixed address, charged with public order offences

Andrew Phelan

March 06 2021 03:00 AM

GARDAÍ had to remove a drunken man from a canal after he stumbled in and ended up submerged up to his neck, a court has heard.

Andrius Rudaitis (44) was arrested for his own safety after he was seen falling into the water of the Royal Canal in Dublin.

He later shouted abuse at other gardaí when separately found drunk in the city centre, and urinated in a station cell.

Rudaitis, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to public order offences and criminal damage.

Garda Emmet Cooke told Dublin District court he was on duty at Royal Canal Way at 12.30am on September 3 last year when he saw the accused unsteady on his feet and swaying from side to side.

Rudaitis stumbled into the canal and became submerged up to his neck, the garda said.

When removed from the canal, he had a strong smell of alcohol on his breath and was arrested for his own safety.

Gda Cooke agreed with defence solicitor Andrew Broderick that the accused was co-operative and the arrest was more because they were concerned for him.

Later, on September 30, Rudaitis became extremely abusive, insulting and threatening to gardaí who found him drunk at Wolfe Tone Square.

He was unable to stand and was very close to the road.

He urinated in a cell at Store Street garda station, which required specialist cleaning that cost €120.

Judge Bryan Smyth fined him €100 for drunkenness and adjourned the other charges for finalisation, after hearing he had a problem with alcohol.