Man and dog had to be pepper-sprayed
A dog and its owner had to be pepper-sprayed following a violent incident at a busy Galway shopping centre, after the man threatened to set the dog on Gardai.
Oscirs Becas (25), 11 Cluain Ard, Ballybane, admitted being under the influence of drugs on September 22 last year when the situation arose at Briarhill Shopping Centre.
Becas pleaded guilty before Galway District Court to not having his dog under proper control at Old Monivea Road on that date and to resisting arrest. He also pleaded guilty to breaching the peace by engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour, and to being drunk in public on the same occasion.
Sergeant Brendan Moore, prosecuting, said Gardai were called to the shopping centre at 2pm by security staff who said a drunk was causing hassle for retail staff while trying to buy alcohol at a checkout.
Becas became very violent when he saw the Gardai and took up a fighting stance shouting he would "break" them and fight them if they came near him. Gardai chased him when he took off running but Becas turned and threatened to set his dog on them.
He violently resisted arrest and both he and his dog had to be pepper-sprayed to effect the arrest, Sgt. Moore said.
Becas, the court was told, had previous convictions in February, 2016, for not having his dog under control and for similar Public Order offences.
Defence solicitor, John Martin, said his admitted to being on drugs at the time of the incident but he was now back working full-time and doing well.
In reply to Judge Gráinne O'Neill, Mr Martin said his client still had the same dog.
"It's not his first time behaving badly and his behaviour led to the dog being pepper-sprayed as well.
"He had no consideration for his dog or for other people on the day", the judge observed.
Noting Becas had since made positive changes to his life, she fined him €300 for breaching the peace and €300 for resisting arrest.