[A-List] Slovakia: a sobering awakening for British "tourists"

["Michael Keaney" <michael011@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Stag night strip may wreck wedding plans

Audrey Gillan
Thursday June 7, 2007
The Guardian

After a few drinks, stripping naked and jumping into a fountain may have
seemed like the obvious thing to do on a stag night in Bratislava. But
upon sobering up, Stephen Mallone, a 25-year-old who is due to be
married on June 15, found himself sentenced to two months in prison.

The prospective groom will miss his £20,000 wedding - complete with
chocolate fountain - if an appeal for his release by the Foreign Office
is not granted by the Slovakian government. His parents have flown to
Bratislava to try to have him freed on time. His fiancee, Kerry Stokes,
remains at home in Tenbury Church, Worcester, and plans to go ahead with
her hen weekend in Butlin's at Minehead on Saturday.

She said: "I miss him so much and just wish he was here by my side. It's
mind boggling; it has made an already stressful time in my life even
worse. He was just messing about by the sounds of things."

Mr Mallone, a self-employed builder, travelled to Bratislava on May 25
with 13 friends. After drinking heavily, he waded into the waters of the
fountain by the city's US embassy, only to be detained by police. He was
charged with being drunk and disorderly, fasttracked through the court
and sentenced to two months in prison.

Ms Stokes said: "Guests are coming from all over the place - Holland,
France, and all sorts. The evening do in the hotel has the whole lot,
even a chocolate fountain. Whatever happens, we'll tie the knot some
time, whether it's on June 15 or later. I'm just hoping the authorities
in Slovakia see sense. I want him home."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "An appeal has been lodged. However, we
do not know how long that could take."


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