Letterkenny Courthouse.
A TYRONE man who threw a stool over the counter at bar maid during a stag night in Letterkenny, escaped a criminal conviction at this week’s sitting of the District Court.
Declan McKenna (36) of 10 Derryclooney, Augher, was before the court charged with assaulting the woman and causing criminal damage at the Wolfe Tone Bar, Lower Main Street, Letterkenny on February 9.
Inspector David Kelly told the court Gardai received a report of a disturbance at the bar at around 1 pm on the day in question.
When they arrived, they were shown CCTV footage of McKenna throwing the bar stool over the counter at the bar maid.
He said that, while the woman was struck by the stool, she did not received any injuries.
McKenna was arrested in the town a short-time later, admitted to the charges and was co-operative with Gardai.
The defendant, who had no legal representation, told Judge Paul Kelly that he had “too much drink” and had little or no recollection of the event.
McKenna said he came to Letterkenny for a friend’s stag party and that he was a single man himself.
Judge Kelly told the self-employed painter and farmer that he should not “throw bar stools at female bar staff.”
“It was a very expensive stag night for you. You lodged €500 bail after your arrest and maybe that money should go to a good cause in lieu of a conviction,” Judge Kelly said.
He added that if McKenna had a solicitor in court it could be argued that he has no previous convictions and that “maybe” his actions were out of character.
McKenna agreed and Judge Kelly ordered that the €500 go to the Donegal Domestic Violence Service before striking out the charges against him.
“It was a lucky thing that that lady was not hurt. You better be more careful next time you are in Letterkenny as I will not be this lenient,” the judge concluded.
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