Man arrested after Westport House disturbance

Man arrested after Westport House disturbance


A Dublin man who was staying with his family in the camping park at Westport House last August was arrested after he engaged in threatening and/or abusive behaviour towards security staff and gardaí.
Luke Kavanagh (39)of Green Acres, Killygobbin Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18 appeared before Westport District Court on Thursday last charged with threatening and abusive behaviour on Sunday, August 12 last.
Inspector Joe McKenna told the court that Garda John Boyle was called to Westport House at 1.25am as security staff were having an issue with Luke Kavanagh. He was camping with his family and was being loud and aggressive towards other guests and security and was also playing a stereo at a loud volume.
Inspector McKenna said that, after Garda Boyle asked Kavanagh to follow him to the car park to have a conversation where other guests wouldn’t be disturbed, Kavanagh replied: ‘Ye are all a f***ing joke, I did nothing and this is discrimination’.
“Discrimination against people making noise,” Judge Conal Gibbons interjected.
Inspector McKenna said, when arrested, Kavanagh ‘was not quiet on the way to the station either’ and when he got there he said he had chest pains and rolled on the floor. A doctor was called and Kavanagh was taken to Mayo General Hospital by ambulance.
When they got there, said Inspector McKenna, Kavanagh ‘recuperated immediately’ and didn’t require treatment.
“It’s a remarkable hospital if they can heal people without even seeing them,” said Judge Gibbons, wryly.
Defending solicitor James Ward said that while his client had nine previous convictions, the most recent was over five years ago. He said Kavanagh’s behaviour on the night was ‘completely unacceptable’, adding his client was ‘full of drink’ and interrupted not only his own family’s enjoyment, but other families’ too.
He said Kavanagh has stopped drinking since and added that this incident appeared to be a one-off in Kavanagh’s recent history. He said that while the father of five is unemployed, he is heavily involved in boxing training at a local club where his 13-year-old son is an accomplished boxer.
Judge Conal Gibbons convicted the defendant of threatening and abusive behaviour and fined him €300.