‘Highly aggressive’ man threatened to bomb hostel that refused him

Staff at a hostel for the homeless in Cork were threatened that the premises would be bombed when they refused to admit a 42-year-old man.

A seven-month jail sentence was yesterday imposed on Richard O’Brien, who is originally from Kerry, as a result of this and other incidents in which he was involved in Cork City.

“His behaviour really is outrageous,” Judge Leo Malone said at Cork District Court yesterday.

Inspector Bill Duane said staff at Simon on Anderson St, Cork, refused admittance to O’Brien because of his drunken behaviour on the evening of Dec 8, 2013.

He reacted by calling the staff “fucking Polish bastards” and that he would bomb them, Insp Duane said, adding that gardaí were called and found he was highly aggressive to staff.

In a second incident on Thursday, Jan 2, Garda Lorraine O’Donovan said yesterday that she responded to a call to Burger King on Patrick St.

O’Brien was going from table to table taking food from people and throwing it on the floor. He refused to leave when asked by staff. He eventually sat on a chair in the premises and shouted at Garda O’Donovan when she and her colleagues were dealing with him that afternoon.

Frank Buttimer, for O’Brien, said yesterday that the man was pleading guilty to charges of being drunk and a source of danger and engaging in threatening behaviour in respect of each incident.

Judge Leo Malone imposed a two-month term but, more significantly, removed the suspension on a seven-month term given to O’Brien last month for similar behaviour.

Mr Buttimer said O’Brien was pleading guilty to the new offences in the knowledge the seven-month sentence would be activated.

The solicitor said that while it was undoubtedly very sad to see the effect that chronic alcoholism had on O’Brien, the jail sentence would give him the opportunity to try and rehabilitate.