A man who produced a ‘rock in a sock’ while arguing with another customer in a fast-food restaurant will avoid a custodial sentence if he does community service.
William Casserly (30), of 159 An Sean Bhaile, Doughiska, pleaded guilty at Galway District Court to breaching the peace by engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour at McDonald’s in Westside on October 9 last year.
A charge of being drunk in public was withdrawn by Inspector Brendan Carroll following the plea to the more serious charge.
Insp Carroll told the court Casserly was acting in an aggressive manner and became very agitated in McDonald’s at 10.45p.m. on the date in question.
He got involved in an altercation with another customer and aggressively took a sock out of his pocket which had a rock in it but didn’t use it.
Insp Carroll said Casserly had 73 previous convictions including ten for similar public order offences. Defence solicitor, Olivia Traynor said the court knew her client well down through the years and he had ongoing issues with alcohol.
“When he’s sober, he causes no difficulties,” Ms Traynor observed.
Judge Mary Fahy said to have a sock with a rock in it in a public place was threatening in itself.
Judge Fahy had Casserly assessed by a probation officer in court as to his suitability to carry out community service. A short time later she was informed he had been deemed suitable and she then imposed 100 hours of community service on Casserly in lieu of a two-month sentence.
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