Friday 30 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 13705Public order (intoxication in a public place) · Co. Donegal

Public order charge struck out after solicitor raises wrong court area

In November, gardaí were alerted to a disturbance on Quay Street, Donegal Town, and met a man whose speech was slurred. He was charged under section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, with being intoxicated in a public place, after a fixed charge penalty notice was issued and not paid. At Ballyshannon District Court, a solicitor, Rory O'Brien, told the court the matter belonged to a different court area, and the inspector accepted this, so the charge was struck out with no conviction. The outcome was reported by DonegalLive on 18 and 19 May 2025.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man was charged with being intoxicated in a public place under section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994.
Where
The incident took place on Quay Street, Donegal Town.
When
  • The incident took place in November, and no exact incident date was given.
  • DonegalLive reported the court outcome on 18 May 2025 in the article header and on 19 May 2025 in the published text.
Investigation
Gardaí were alerted to a disturbance, and officers met the man and noted that his speech was slurred.
Cause
The man said he fell out with a girl over a bag of chips.
Other details
  • A fixed charge penalty notice was issued and was not paid.
  • The court was told the man has nine previous convictions.
  • The solicitor apologised on the man's behalf and said he should have paid the fixed charge notice.
In court
  • The case was heard at Ballyshannon District Court before Judge Michael Connellan.
  • Sources differ on representation: the article says the man chose to represent himself, while the key facts say solicitor Rory O'Brien represented him.
  • The solicitor told the court the matter was being presented in the wrong court area, and the inspector accepted the point.
Sentence
The charge was struck out, so the man was not convicted.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe incident took place on Quay Street, Donegal Town. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place in November. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí were alerted to a disturbance. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationOfficers met the man and spoke to him, and his speech was slurred. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe man was charged with being intoxicated in a public place under section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtSolicitor Rory O'Brien represented the man in court. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe solicitor told the court the matter was being presented in the wrong court area. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe inspector accepted the point and the charge was struck out. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherA fixed charge penalty notice was issued and was not paid. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe man said he fell out with a girl over a bag of chips. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe court was told the man has nine previous convictions. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe solicitor apologised on the man's behalf and said he should have paid the fixed charge notice. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 May2025
    Otherdonegallive.ie, first report
    ‘Bag of chips’ case gets fried after solicitor steps in at Ballyshannon court

    Reports the court outcome: the charge was struck out after the solicitor raised that the matter belonged to a different court area. The article gives no exact incident date, only November.

    accused, male