Police found themselves locked inside a pub in Maugheraboy, Sligo, having tried to arrest the publican. The pub owner told the police they should be out investigating more serious crimes and then locked them inside the establishment.
 
On Monday the Sligo District Court heard that the police arrested Labour Party councilor Jimmy McGarry, co-owner of Mooney’s pub, however they could not leave the pub as the publican had instructed his daughter not to unlock the door.
 
Detective Cathal Duffy told the court that he arrested McGarry, who was formerly the Mayor of Sligo, after he called him a “f**king b*****d”. According to the Irish Independent the police detective said that McGarry became aggressive and asked why the police were not investigating serious crimes.
 
Police officer Thomas O’Griofa said that McGarry had called him a “prick” and also said that it was clear O’Griofa liked a couple of pints himself, looking at the size of his belly.
 
The police had found ten to twelve people on the premise at 12.50am on March 10, 2008. The closing time should have been 11pm. The police found freshly poured pints of Guinness and a DJ playing music.
 
Duffy also told the court that McGarry’s daughter, Aideen, who was in charge of the premise, was very co-operative and got upset when the police attempted to arrest her father. McGarry’s wife, Louise, tried to hold on to her husband as he was arrested.
 
O’Griofa attempted to open the door shouldering it a couple of time. Eventually Aideen opened the door. He also told the court that McGarry was wriggling so much when he was arrested he almost lost his jacket and shirt.
 
McGarry has insisted that he never used the phases "a f***ing bastard" or "prick". He claims that the police spent nearly ten minutes interviewing his daughter and a niece in a snug.
 
He asked his daughter not to open the door as he feared what would happen if the altercation were taken outside.
 
He also said that he later apologized for the comment he made about O’Griofa’s belly.
 
The charges were cleared by Judge Kilrane as he said that he believed the defendant had not acted with criminal intent. He also said that he did not think the defendant knew why he had been arrested. McGarry was fined €200 for selling alcohol without a license.