'He was speaking nonsense' -Drunk Longford resident handed community service sentence

A judge has ordered a man who was drunk and disorderly to complete 30 hours of community work and told if he does it he will avoid a suspended prison sentence being activated.

Billel Ramdani (27) of The Boulevard, Bealing Village, Richmond Street, Longford pleaded guilty to a public order breach, namely being drunk and disorderly at Richmond Street, Longford on July 28 last.

Sgt Shane Kelleher said Gardaí observed the defendant in an intoxicated state and he was "struggling to stand up by himself and he was speaking nonsense".

The defendant had 16 previous convictions, four of which were for public order-related offences.

Sgt Kelleher said Mr Ramdani had recently received a three month suspended prison sentence which had been activated by this latest offence.

The court heard the defendant has a five month old son, he has been living in Ireland for about five years and he earns €38 per week.

Judge Bernadette Owens stated she was aware if she convicted Mr Ramdani it would trigger the suspended sentence and she decided to request a restorative justice report.

She directed the defendant to complete 30 hours of community work and she said if this was completed she would not invoke the suspended sentence before adjourning the case until January 13 next.

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