Busker was abusive towards gardaí

A busker making money at 3am in Cork city centre, with up to 60 people dancing on the street around him, took exception to the gardaí dispersing the crowd.

One of the buskers agreed to finish when gardaí told him. However, the drummer wanted to keep the rhythm going and became aggressive towards the guards.

Solicitor Emmet Boyle explained on behalf of the unhappy busker that when the music stops there is no more money to be made.

Judge Leo Malone wondered: “Is that when the fat lady sings?”

Inspector Bill Duane said there was singing and dancing on the street when gardaí arrived in the early morning of May 11, 2014.

The inspector said it was 3am and even pubs in the area would only get special event licences until 2 am.

Judge Malone said the music had to stop at some stage for residents of the city.

Insp Duane said gardaí went to the scene outside the Vodafone shop at the corner of Winthrop St and Oliver Plunkett St where they encountered the large group singing and dancing to the music of two buskers.

“Gardaí asked the musicians to stop,” said Insp Duane. “One of them stopped without any difficulty. The other — Mkolas Erwin Picheinski — jumped up from his seat and became abusive to gardaí.

“He had to be told to calm down. However, he continued to be abusive in what were believed to be insulting words in Polish as the other musician held him back.

“He was subsequently arrested for his abusive behaviour.”

The accused, who lives at an apartment at Clifton Terrace, Summerhill North, Cork, had 11 previous convictions and had got a two-month jail sentence for being abusive and failing to abide by the directions of gardaí.

The judge fined the busker €400 for being threatening and abusive and €200 for being drunk and a source of danger to himself or others.

Judge Malone told him if he came before court again he would get a jail sentence.