'How can we help this man if he's not willing to help himself?' - offender given 'one final opportunity' to address alcohol issues
An offender who smashed a window with a bottle during a drunken argument and told gardaí to “f**k off” while being arrested has been given “one final opportunity” to address his alcohol difficulties by a judge.
Judge Derek Cooney asked: “How can we help this man if he is not willing to help himself?” as he warned 59-year-old David Doyle he would send him to prison if he offends again.
Doyle, with an address at Kilcross Square, Sandyford Road, Dublin 18, pleaded guilty to theft, criminal damage, intoxication in a public place, threatening and abusive behaviour, resisting arrest and two counts of failing to appear in court, arising from incidents between June 2024 and October 2025.
At Dún Laoghaire District Court, Judge Cooney heard that Doyle stole five bottles of white wine valued at €49.95 from Lidl, Dundrum Town Centre, on June 30, 2024.
On October 21, 2024, at Sandyford Road, Dundrum, Doyle was intoxicated in a public place and was described as very loud, shouting and unsteady on his feet. The court heard he told gardaí to “f**k off” when asked to leave the area.
In December 2024, Doyle was again highly intoxicated during an argument at an apartment in Ballinteer. The court heard he stormed out and threw a bottle at an upstairs bedroom window, smashing the glass.
Doyle was again intoxicated in a public place at The Maltings, Bonham Street, Dublin 8 on April 3, 2025, where he behaved in a threatening manner and resisted arrest.
The court was told Doyle has six previous convictions, including a public order offence for which he was fined €1,200 in July 2024.
Defence solicitor, Patricia Camilon, said her client wished to apologise to the court and to An Garda Síochána. She said Doyle had been homeless for a number of years and had been engaging with the Peter McVerry Trust, linking in weekly with a key worker.
Counsel told the court that Mr Doyle was diagnosed with stage four cancer approximately three years ago and continues to undergo treatment, including regular oncology appointments at St James’s Hospital.
It was submitted that difficult personal circumstances had contributed to a relapse in alcohol misuse, but that Doyle is now remorseful.
Judge Cooney said the probation report was not positive and noted concerns about Doyle’s engagement with services.
He said the purpose of probation was to help the defendant address the underlying alcohol problem, adding: “How can we help this man if he is not willing to help himself?”
The judge said the easiest option would be to impose a six-month custodial sentence, but he did not wish to see Doyle lose his accommodation or support.
He said he would give Doyle “one final opportunity” and imposed a probation bond, directing him to engage fully with the Probation Service.
Judge Cooney warned that if Doyle failed to engage, he would be back before the court facing a custodial sentence.
Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
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