ACTOR Dave Finnegan "took exception" when a garda arrived to deal with a young girl begging in Dublin's Grafton Street, Dublin District Court was told yesterday.
Mr Finnegan (30), of Manor Street, Dublin 7, who played a drummer in the film The Commitments, refused to leave the scene and then verbally abused the garda after giving the girl some money, the court was told.
The girl had recognised Mr Finnegan from his role in the film and he stopped to express sympathy and ask her what she was doing on the streets, said Mr Paul Greene, defending solicitor.
The musician took exception because he misunderstood the intentions of the garda, who wished only to save the girl embarrassment by asking him to move along, said Mr Greene.
Garda Declan O'Rourke said he was responding to complaints after the girl set herself up begging on Grafton Street early on Sunday morning, April 6th.
Judge John Neilan said the defendant should respect the duties of gardai and not take issue with them in public. "Members of the travelling community are sent out by their parents or peers not out of necessity but to advance their drinking habits," he said.
The judge added that given the amounts of money being paid to them in social welfare and by the health boards, it was not voluntary assistance they needed.
The judge was told Mr Finnegan had no criminal record and said he would impose the Probation Act without conviction if £100 was paid to the Regina Coeli women's hostel by September 1st.