Chain saw carver was ‘half cut’ in hospital

A festival chain saw carver believes he stripped to the waist and became aggressive to staff at A&E because he got a blow to the head when assaulted on the way home after a drink-fuelled night out.

Jed Morgan (25), a native Cork, with a rental address at 2 Glen Rua, Renmore, pleaded guilty at Galway District Court in April to breaching the peace by engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour at the hospital on January 10 last.  He pleaded guilty also to being drunk and a danger to himself and others on the same occasion.

The court heard Gardai were called to A&E where they found a very intoxicated Morgan, stripped to the waist with staff restraining him.

He attempted to head butt one of the Gardai when they intervened. He spat and roared at them, making other patients in the vicinity very distressed.

Morgan, the court was told, had three previous convictions which included two for drugs possession and dealing and the third for possession of a weapon.

Defence solicitor, John Martin, said his client, who is a chain saw carver at festivals, had been out drinking with friends and was assaulted on the way home that evening.  He came around and found himself lying on the street.  He made his way home but collapsed a short time later and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Mr Martin said Morgan was confused and only remembered the bright lights at the hospital.  He said his client didn’t even remember leaving the Garda station the following morning.

Judge Alan Mitchell, who heard the evidence in April, adjourned the matter to this week’s court for a probation report on Morgan.

Hearing the accused was before the court for two Public Order offences, Judge Mary Fahy said the probation service was already hard-pressed to produce reports for much more serious matters.

She heard an outline of the facts again before convicting and fining Morgan €300 for breaching the peace while taking the lesser charge of being drunk in public, into account.