A Co Roscommon builder demolished a traffic bollard in Dublin by belly-flopping on it after a night's drinking, a court was told yesterday. James Anthony King (33), from Ballintubber, Co Roscommon, pleaded guilty to causing £136 of criminal damage to a plastic bollard at St Stephen's Green at about 4 a.m. on June 25th.
Garda Joe Lowney told Dublin District Court that another accused man, Duncan Higgins (23), also from Ballintubber, tore off a road sign at the junction with Leeson Street. He also pleaded guilty.
The court heard that both men had drunk 10 pints and some wine that night. King had already paid almost £1,000 for two previous offences of criminal damage in Co Roscommon, while Higgins had one previous criminal damage conviction.
Judge Murrough Connellan said that King, who had paid £136 compensation, seemed to be "uncontrolled". He imposed a two-month suspended sentence on him. Higgins was remanded on bail to September 25th to pay £65 compensation for attempted larceny.