Longford man told court won’t tolerate any more ‘lip and blather’

A judge has told a Longford man he will not accept any more of his “lip and blather” after handing him a suspended sentence for threatening to kill his own father during a row on St Patrick’s Day.

Judge Seamus Hughes made the remarks to Shane Nevin (30), 67 Farnagh, Longford after an incident at Palace Crescent, Longford on March 17 2019.

Sgt Paddy McGirl said gardaí had been on patrol in the area at around 6:35pm on the evening of the incident when they came across Mr Nevin in an intoxicated state.

“He was banging on the door of his father’s house, verbally abusing him and threatening to kill his father,” said Sgt McGirl, while his three brothers were outside.

The court heard how Mr Nevin was described as being “extremely irate” at the time and was directed to leave the vicinity of the area. Moments later, Sgt McGirl said Mr Nevin enticed gardaí into arresting him, which they duly did. It was also revealed Mr Nevin had 11 previous convictions on his record, eight of which were for similar public order offences.

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Judge Hughes was further told the accused had started a separate community service order, leading him to ask what type of work it entailed.

Wearing jeans and a white jumper with both hands in his back pocket, Mr Nevin replied: “Clean. Picking whatever down at the swimming pool.”

It was a response which Judge Hughes was quick to criticise.

“You are full of lip and blather with your father…..but when he comes in here he doesn’t talk to me,” said Judge Hughes.

Raising his voice in making those remarks, Judge Hughes shouted down from the bench: “When will it stop?

“Now,” Mr Nevin muttered. “It’s the drink.”

Judge Hughes said after affording Mr Nevin a chance previously by issuing a community service order on him, he told him the likelihood of a custodial sentence was becoming increasingly likely.

“Next stop it’s prison. Do you want to go to prison?” Judge Hughes asked the accused.

In an attempt to intervene, defence solicitor John Quinn said his client was struggling to grasp the seriousness of the situation facing him.

“He is a vulnerable type,” said Mr Quinn.

“I would rely a lot on his father as he is very good.”

Judge Hughes was unconvinced however, admitting the frequency at which Mr Nevin was appearing in court was of increasing concern.

“This guy is coming in too often to me,” said the judge.

“I have to give him a shake down at this stage.”

Sgt McGirl conceded Mr Nevin’s current behaviour was a “concern” to gardaí.

Before details of any sentence was given, Mr Quinn pleaded with Judge Hughes to stop short of jailing his client and instead leave “something hanging over him”. As a result, Judge Hughes issued a three month suspended sentence for the Section 8 charge of failing to comply with the directions of a garda.

A two month concurrent sentence was passed for a Section 6 Public Order charge of engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour, the term of which was also suspended for three years.

A €200 fine was also imposed with Mr Nevin given three months to pay.