'I wasn't asked to walk white line' said man gardaí found 'stumbling in the street'

A man in his 60s who was found “stumbling on the street” in Mullingar has been convicted and fined by a District Court judge despite complaining how he was never asked to “walk the line” by gardaí who arrested him.

James Slevin (65) Drumraney, Athlone, Westmeath represented himself at a sitting of Mullingar District Court last week to answer a charge of public intoxication at Caffrey’s, 27 Mount Street, Mullingar, Westmeath on June 9, 2025.

Garda Damien Moran gave evidence of having found the accused in a “very intoxicated” state, unsteady on his feet and “stumbling on the street”.

Mr Slevin was later arrested and taken to Mullingar Garda Station, where a Fixed Charge Penalty Notice (FCPN) was issued.

The notice was never paid, added Garda Moran, and a court summons was issued for Mr Slevin.

The accused challenged the evidence put forward by Garda Moran by insisting he had effectively got the wrong man. “It couldn’t have been me that day,” he said.

“I was in Ballinderry Hospital until half five (in the evening) and came up the street for a few drinks.”

Mr Slevin said his apparent unsteady appearance was linked to medication he had been taking at the time.

“I think that the barman didn’t like the look of me,” he said. “I have medication that makes me drowsy, but I wasn’t drunk.”

Mr Slevin also called into question the methods gardaí had used during his arrest and said the timing of his release from custody left a lot to be desired.

“I wasn’t asked to walk a white line, I didn’t get out until 4am and I couldn’t get a taxi home,” he said.

Judge Owens said she was satisfied with the evidence presented by Garda Moran, convicted Mr Slevin and fined him €100.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme