Tuam milkman avoids porridge after boss speaks up for him

A MILKMAN avoided a spell in prison after his employer told Judge Geoffrey Browne at Tuam Court that he was an exemplary worker and he would be sticking by him. Before the Court was Paul Parsons of 80 Gilmartin Road, Tuam, charged with public order offences. His solicitor said Parsons was a Jekyll & Hyde character because of his serious drink problem. A Garda patrol came across Parsons at High Street, Tuam at 2.45 am on January 15 shouting at another male. He then went into a take-away, took off his jacket and started a row. When Gardai intervened he continued misbehaving, shouting that all Garda were 'wankers and bollixes'. There were about 30 people on the street at the time. [private] On February 22 a Garda found Parsons asleep on the footpath on High Street at 3.10am. He was very intoxicated at the time. The Court was told Parsons had a list of previous convictions over the past ten years, mostly for public order offences and assaults. Jekyll and Hyde Danny McGrath solr (defending) pleaded that Parson was a Jekyll and Hyde character. When he has drink taken he's a totally different person than when he's sober. Drink was the common denominator in all his problems with the law and he was coming to realise this. He had a serious alcohol problem but his employer was in Court to speak on his behalf. Judge Browne said the defendant had a serious attitude problem towards the Gardai but he agreed to hear what Parsons' employer had to say. Michael O'Connor said he had known Parsons for 20 years. He delivered milk for him and never missed a day at work, turning up at 5 am when it was required. He agreed that he had a serious problem with drink. However, he was willing to stick by him as he was an exemplary employee and would continue to work for him irrespective of the outcome of the case. Danny McGrath told Judge Browne that he knew he had heard talk of dealing with drink problems before but assured him that in this case it was genuine. 'He deserves to go away but maybe he can get back on the straight and narrow,' the Judge said before adjourning the case until May 22 for the preparation of a Probation report. 'Only for his solicitor and this gentleman here, he would be going away. I hope he doesn't let you down,' the Judge concluded. [/private]