Verbally abusive man was found asleep at Longford housing estate entrance

A judge has decided to push back sentencing a Longford man who was highly intoxicated and verbally abusive to Gardaí to assess how he behaves over the intervening period. Trevor Reilly (43) of Cloncovid, Kilcogy, Cavan pleaded guilty to a public order breach in the Clonbalt Woods area of Longford town on October 3 last.

Sergeant Mark Mahon, prosecuting, said gardaí received a report shortly after 8pm that a man was highly intoxicated and he passed out at the entrance to the estate.

The court heard officers went to the scene and they attempted to assist the man, now known to be Mr Reilly who had cuts to his face, but he was very drunk and resisted any help while being verbally abusive to gardaí.

The defendant had 29 previous convictions, including eight previous convictions under Section 6 of the Public Order Act namely using threatening, abusive, or insulting behavior in a public place.

Solicitor Frank Gearty, prosecuting, said his client, a father of one, had been 'back on the wagon but he lost himself' at the time of this incident.

"He has had a long-standing battle with alcoholism."

Mr Gearty said Mr Reilly had during better times worked with the humanitarian organisation Unicef and the Oxfam charity and he has now been eight months off the drink. Mr Gearty said his client had fallen fully asleep and the gardaí were subsequently notified and they arrived. The court heard the defendant did not react positively to being awoken by gardaí.

Mr Gearty said the consequences of his client's drinking led to an illness, but his life has recently been much more stable."

Judge Deirdre Gearty decided to adjourn the case until March 24, 2026 with liberty to re-enter if Mr Reilly comes to Garda attention during the intervening period.