Dangerous sex offender told to stay away from Galway

A 48-year-old registered sex offender who had been remanded on bail to appear before Galway District Court next September for sentence for public order offences committed in the city last February, had the matters dealt with when he appeared back before the court unexpectedly.

Lorcan Halton, a native of Glasgow, with an address at 7 Porter’s Row, Ticosker, Arva, Cavan, first appeared before Galway District Court last March where he was granted free legal aid.

Halton was charged with being drunk and a danger to himself and others and with breaching the peace, by engaging in threatening and abusive words or behaviour at Henry Street, Galway on February 13 last and with breaching the peace again the following day at Bowling Green.

The matter was adjourned on two occasions in the interim and Halton appeared before the court in Galway again in late June where he pleaded guilty to the Public Order offences.

Judge Mary Fahy could not finalise sentence, however, as Halton had to return to Virginia District Court in Cavan, where a suspended sentence had been left hanging over him for an offence committed in that area.

As the Galway offences were committed during the period of that suspended sentence, the court in Cavan had to decide if it should activate the suspended sentence before the court in Galway could deal with the Public Order offences.

Adrian MacLynn, solicitor, who was assigned to represent the accused under the Free Legal Aid Scheme, told the court last June that the Cavan matter had not been dealt with yet.

Judge Fahy decided to give the court in Cavan time to reach its decision and she adjourned the Galway matters to September 2 for disposal then, remanding Halton on continuing bail (on the Galway charges) to appear before her court again on that date.

However, Halton appeared back before the court in Galway recently.

Mr MacLynn explained the Cavan court had decided not to activate the sentence and his client now wished to have the Galway charges dealt with.

Mr MacLynn said his client was a former machine operative who had been under the influence of alcohol at the time and was sorry.

Imposing fines totalling €500 for both breaches of the peace, Judge Mary Fahy said she hoped Halton would not be back in Galway for a long time.

He assured her on that.

Halton went on the run in Scotland last year for nearly three months, before being arrested in Ireland.

Police in Glasgow had warned the public not to approach the man, whom they described as “dangerous”.