Man facing three months’ jail for bottom-pinching

A man has been sentenced to three months in prison for pinching a woman’s bottom.

Judge Mary Fahy warned Francis Ward (19), of no fixed abode, to keep his hands to himself before imposing the sentence at Galway District Court last week.

Ward appeared in custody before the court on foot of a bench warrant which was issued for his arrest before Christmas.

He pleaded guilty to breaching the peace, by engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour at Abbeygate Street on July 30 last, contrary to Section 6 of the Public Order Act 1994.

Ward also pleaded guilty to being drunk in public on the same date and to handling a bottle of alcohol knowing it had been stolen on a separate date last May.

Sergeant Cathal Rodgers, prosecuting, said Garda Colm Harlowe was approached by a woman at Abbeygate Street on July 30 who said the accused had pinched her on the bottom without her permission.

Ward left the area on seeing Garda Harlowe but the Garda caught up with him.  He apologised for his behaviour but was arrested for his own safety due to the level of his intoxication at the time.

The woman didn’t want to make a statement on attend court.

Separately, Ward pleaded guilty to handling €11 worth of alcohol stolen from a supermarket on May 8 last year.

Defence barrister, Garry MacDonald said his client had a serious alcohol addiction and was availing of the winter initiative for homeless people at present.

“You have not addressed the elephant in the room.  He assaulted a female by making contact with her which was uninvited – which was a sexual assault – although he is only charged with a Section 6 Public Order offence,” Judge Mary Fahy said to counsel.

Mr MacDonald said Ward had no recollection and was ‘a bit shocked and upset’ when told what he did.

“He needs to keep his hands to himself,” Judge Mary Fahy warned.

She said the fact Ward couldn’t remember what he did was no excuse and due to the nature of the charge she said she was imposing the maximum of three months in prison.

She imposed a concurrent one-month sentence on him for handling the stolen alcohol and took the intoxication charge into account.

Leave to appeal the sentence was granted on Ward’s own surety of €400 and one independent surety of €600 with half of each amount to be lodged in court. Judge Fahy also directed Ward to sign on every Friday at Galway Garda Station once he lodges the money and is released from custody, pending the appeal hearing.