Judge tells Longford man found drunk while in charge of baby: “The future is in your hands"

Marcin Rosada (30) 6 Oaklands Dale, Longford appeared last week charged with a string of offences dating back to February of last year.

Rosada was facing over 20 charges: misuse of drugs, obstructing a Garda, possession of an article, threatening and abusive behaviour, trespass, and assault. The first of those arose on February 18, 2021 during which Mr Rosada allegedly assaulted Gardaí Joe Kavanagh and John Hanley.

On the same date, Mr Rosada was further accused of obstructing a Garda, being in the possession of scissors and unlawfully using violence.

Seven months later, Gardaí charged him with being found drunk while in charge of a one year old child. On St Stephen's Day at 6 Oaklands Dale, Longford town, Mr Rosada was charged with criminal damage to a bicycle, Playstation 4 and television.

Further charges of being intoxicated in a public place and trespassing at Longford town's Annaly Hotel would emerge in January, leading Judge Bernadette Owens to seek a probation report on the accused. He also faced a charge of public intoxication on September 13, 2021 at Oaklands.

The court was told Rosada has continued to engage with Probation Services since directed to do so by the court and has followed the direction of the probation officer. Solicitor Brid Mimnagh said the defendant is now working in construction in Athlone and has turned his life around.

“He is a far cry from where he was last Christmas,” Judge Owens noted. Ms Mimnagh said at the time of the offences her client was “in a bad place” but is now on medication and continues to engage with a psychotherapist.

In summing up Judge Owens said: “He appears a lot different to last year, when he was going through a particularly bad time. His partner has supported him in dealing with his problems. It is to his credit that Mr Rosada has availed of the services on offer.” The judge said although there were a “vast number of charges before the court” Rosada's progress, his engagement with services, and the fact he is back to work would make it “counter production to impose a custodial sentence”.

For the first set of charges the judge registered a conviction and sentenced the defendant to five months in custody, but suspended it for a period of five months on the defendant's own bond of €250.

For the second set of charges Rosada received a nine month sentence but this was also suspended for 18 months. The judge concluded by saying: “The future is in your hands, the best of luck.”