Gardaí found man passed out in KFC meal, court told
Photo for illustrative purposes only
A CARLOW man was fined €550 at Carlow District Court after being found guilty of two public order offences for public intoxication. Ken Butler (40), 38 Friars Green Road, Tullow pleaded guilty to one count of public intoxication relating to an incident in Haddens shopping centre on 27 January 2025.
The court was told that gardaí were called to Haddens shopping centre shortly before 3pm on that date because an “intoxicated man was causing a nuisance”.
When gardaí arrived at the scene, they found Mr Butler standing in a changing room, talking to himself and noted that there was a strong smell of alcohol from him.
Gardaí issued Mr Butler with a fixed charged notice, which he had failed to pay.
Mr Butler pleaded not guilty to the second charge of public intoxication, which related to an incident in KFC Carlow on 27 November 2025.
Arresting officer Garda Rafter testified that gardaí were called to the scene after receiving reports that there was an intoxicated male in the establishment. Upon arrival, Garda Rafter found Mr Butler to be passed out in his KFC meal and observed a strong smell of alcohol coming from his person.
Mr Butler then testified that he had gone to KFC to get food for himself and his mother on the date in question as it was the closest chipper to his house. He said that he was going through a “rough patch” and that he struggles with negative thoughts as his brother had died at the age of 23 at that time of year.
Mr Butler admitted to having drunk beforehand, but disputed Garda Rafter’s testimony that he had passed out, saying that Garda Rafter had misjudged the situation.
Mr Butler said that instead of being passed out in his KFC meal, he was sitting with his head in his hands.
Mr Butler added that he did not protest his arrest in any way, as, when he had previously been arrested and protested the reason for his arrest, he had been accused of resisting and so did not say anything in case he got “in trouble”.
After hearing evidence from the prosecution and defence, Judge Gerladine Carthy was satisfied to convict Mr Butler on the second offence, noting that by his own admission he has difficulties at that time of year with alcohol.
The court heard that Mr Butler has 69 previous offences, 16 of those offences relating to public order. Mr Butler was most recently convicted on 7 November 2025 for a public order offence and for theft.
Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted and fined Mr Butler €250 for the public order offence that occurred in Haddens shopping centre and €300 for the public order offence that occurred in KFC. Mr Butler was given 120 days to pay both fines.
