Man threw chairs in Dublin takeaway after staff refused his demands for free food
A man who smashed equipment and threw chairs around a takeaway when staff refused his demands for free food has been jailed for his 'outrageous' behaviour.
In another incident, Christopher Murtagh (32) threw a plant pot into a buggy with a baby inside as he passed on the street, leaving the mother 'alarmed'.
Sentencing him to 15 months in prison, Judge John Hughes said Murtagh had acted as if he was entitled to free food, and was fortunate he was not charged with assaulting the baby.
Murtagh, with an address at Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, pleaded not guilty to criminal damage in the first incident.
Dublin District Court heard Murtagh went to Eat More takeaway, Ballybough Road, on January 8, 2020, and requested that staff 'provide him with free food' as he did not want to pay.
He became irate when he was refused and damaged a monitor that was used to type up orders, by knocking it down on to its face on the counter and cracking the screen.
Murtagh then threw two plastic chairs from the seating area over the counter and in the direction of staff.
The prosecuting garda said he recognised the accused in CCTV footage.
There was no witness available as the takeaway had since closed
Defence barrister Paul Larkin Coyle said the accused would say that 'it wasn't him' and he was not in the takeaway that day. The court heard there was no witness available as the takeaway had since closed.
Judge Hughes said the garda was familiar with Murtagh and the footage was clear in quality.
Murtagh did not give evidence and the judge convicted him.
Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 1st
In the separate public order incident, the court heard Murtagh was behaving erratically on Store Street on July 17 last year when he threw a plant pot into a passing buggy and though the baby was unharmed, the mother was alarmed.
He became abusive to the investigating garda, pushed against him and motioned as if he was going to head-butt him. He kicked out and struggled as he was arrested. When taken to the garda station, he head-butted an acrylic-glass screen multiple times, screaming that he would fight the jailer.
'Mr Murtagh's behaviour was outrageous, to go into a takeaway, demanding free food as if you had an entitlement to it, then when you can't convince the proprietor and employees you start damaging equipment and throwing chairs around,' the judge said.
'No wonder they've ceased to trade, what business could stay open?'
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