*The public order offence occurred last April.
A JUDGE has turned down a proposal from a ‘theatrical’ part-time farm hand and self-described poet that he pay his court penalty by way of a poem.
At Gort District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett convicted Daithi Ó Dálaigh (55) of Crannagh, Gort, Galway of a public order offence in Gort at 10.30pm on April 30th 2022 when a Garda was forced to stop the intoxicated Mr Ó Dálaigh cycling home for his own safety.
Judge Gabbett said that the actions of Garda Stephen Joyce “was good community policing”.
In response to Judge Gabbett finding him guilty of the public order offence, Mr Ó Dálaigh said, “By way of payment, can I offer a poem as payment? I am a poet and what I offer is a very short poem”.
In reply, Judge Gabbett said, “It is a very nice offer, but the system doesn’t allow it. I have to apply the Fines Act”.
The long-bearded Mr Ó Dálaigh described himself as “a part-time farm hand, artist and poet” in court.
Judge Gabbett said, “I can’t mark the fine as paid for a poem – I am sure we would all like to hear your poem but that is a different matter”.
In response, Mr Ó Dálaigh pointed out that previously at Gort District Court, “a noncitizen of this country was allowed to pay a fine with a painting on two separate occasions”.
In response, Judge Gabbett said, “Unfortunately that is not how I operate.”
Judge Gabbett said that he would impose a fine of €100 on Mr Ó Dálaigh who said that he was on social welfare.
Explaining his behaviour on the night, Mr Ó Dálaigh said, “I am an emotional person even when I am pure sober. I am theatrical and when I was on the phone I was quite excitable and very animated and not threatening”.
Judge Gabbett said that Mr Ó Dálaigh didn’t face a charge concerning threatening anyone.
Judge Gabbett said that the charge faced by Mr Ó Dálaigh “is a very minor charge”.
Mr O’Dalaigh did plead guilty to drug possession of €20 worth of cannabis and cultivating two cannabis plants at his own home on December 19th 2021. Gardai put a street value of €1,600 on the two plants and Mr Ó Dálaigh remarked that the cannabis was “for my own personal use – I try to stay away from the international market”.
Judge Gabbett fined Mr Ó Dálaigh €150 for the drug cultivation and took the other offence into account.
Mr Ó Dálaigh told Judge Gabbet, “My house has been raided nearly a dozen times over the years”.
