A YOUNG man who made a bogus phone call about a fire in Hotel Newport in August last year appeared before Judge Mary Devins in Westport District Court last week.
Garda James Corrigan told the court that, while on duty, and in the vicinity of the Newport Hotel, on August 3 last, he received a call from management about a fire.
“We checked inside the hotel and found nothing. The Fire Services were also called and when they came, they found nothing either,” Garda Corrigan said.
When the garda subsequently contacted Camp West – the regional emergency call-out service – in an attempt to identify the phone number from which the emergency call was made, he was informed the number was an English phone code.
He then repeatedly tried to contact by phone the person who had raised the alarm but there was no reply.
“When I returned to work the following day at 12 noon, I tried the number again. When I finally got though, I could hear a tannoy in the background, making a last call for a flight. Garda Corrigan immediately phoned Knock Airport, gave security the phone number of the suspect and he was detained, after security personnel rang his number and identified him, as he replied in Departures.
However, it transpired, Garda Corrigan explained, that on the night in question, the phone owner had lent his phone to a Sean Davitt, of Cloondaff, Glenhest.
Before Judge Devins complimented the garda on his ‘very good detective work’, Garda Corrigan said that when he then contacted the accused, he admitted he had been ‘very drunk’ on the night of August 3.
Counsel for the accused, Patrick Durcan said: “When my client came in the following day he was still suffering from a hangover. He had been engaged in drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and spirits and beer.”
“I think following all this, when he came to his senses, he realised he was very wrong. Subsequently, he did send a letter to the Chef Fire Officer apologising, albeit at my suggestion,” Mr Durcan said.
Mr Durcan told the court the cost of the Fire Services operation on the night was €550 and his client had €150 of that, now available, as an instalment.
“My client is from a very decent, hard-working family. He is 19 years of age and the youngest of two children. He trained as a plasterer but is now unemployed,” Mr Durcan said.
Judge Devins adjourned sentencing until September 2 next, to allow Mr Davitt save the balance owed to the Fire Services. She also suggested that the possibility of him doing voluntary work, at either the hotel or with the Fire Services, be explored.
