Man was mugged by stranger before being arrested afterwards by gardaí in County Kildare

A Kildare man aged in his 20s was mugged by a stranger before being arrested afterwards by gardaí.

The claim about the unusual and unfortunate turn of events was relayed to Judge Desmond Zaidan by the man's solicitor during a Naas District Court case, which was held on Thursday, January 11.

The man was accompanied in the court by his mother and a sibling.

Gardaí said that the man was charged with being drunk in public on two separate occasions in County Kildare.

Commenting on the second incident, the man's solicitor explained that while he was drunk, he was mugged by a stranger.

When he went into a nearby garda station to report the crime, he was subsequently arrested.

It was heard that he was put in a station cell for the rest of the night.

Judge Zaidan asked the man: "How would you rate your stay?"

After a brief pause, the man replied: "Five out of ten", drawing a chuckle from the judge and some court practitioners.

When the judge asked the man if he knows who mugged him, his solicitor said that his client has no personal recollection of the night in question.

The judge then asked the man if he has an alcohol addicition, to which the man replied with: "Yes."

Judge Desmond Zaidan presided over the case.

However, he added that he has abstained from alcohol for nearly one year, following a period of time in a rehabilitation centre.

Gardaí told the judge that the man has 'some previous' convictions for public disorder.

The man's solicitor countered that his client has not come to garda attention for some time now, and highlighted the fact that he no longer consumes alcohol.

He also said that while his client is unemployed, he is currently looking for employment.

Judge Zaidan asked the man's mother: "Is he behaving himself now?" to which she responded: "Yes."

Speaking to Garda Sergeant David Hanrahan, Judge Zaidan asked him: "Is he a 'passive' drunk, rather than an 'aggressive' drunk?'"

"Yes, that's right," Sgt Hanrahan replied.

After a brief moment of consideration, Judge Zaidan ultimately decided to apply the Probation Act on the man.