Man ‘made a complete and utter fool of himself’

Cawley, with an address at Kishogue Lane, Lucan, admitted to giving a false name and address to a garda, breaching the peace and failing to comply with a garda’s directions at the Naas Road, Clondalkin, on December 16, 2019.

Presenting Sergeant Maria Callaghan told Judge McHugh that at 3.15am on December 16 last, the gardai were called to an incident outside the nightclub at the Red Cow complex where 10 to 12 males were fighting. She said Cawley had his top off and was beckoning others to fight him.

Sgt Callaghan said Cawley was directed to leave the scene and failed to do so and was arrested.

Cawley gave his name as “Michael Murphy” with an address in Sandyford but his real name and address came to light when he was taken to Clondalkin garda station.

Sgt Callaghan said Cawley had four previous convictions all for road traffic offences.

Judge McHugh told the court: “He [Cawley] made a complete and utter fool of himself.”

Ms Jackson said Cawley had a lot to drink on the date in question and had no recollection of the incident.

Judge McHugh told Ms Jackson: “It is a very extreme incident of public disorder, taking off his shirt and calling others to fight him.”

Ms Jackson asked the judge to leave Cawley without a conviction. She said he only had previous for road traffic offences and would be prepared to pay €200 to charity.

Judge McHugh told Ms Jackson that normally he would be prepared to accept such an application but “such is the extreme nature of the public disorder in this incident” he would not.

Convicting, he fined Cawley €200 for the failing to comply charge and took the remaining matters into consideration.