Man agrees to avoid city library and staff members

A man who was jailed for six months for assaulting a caretaker at Cork City Library on Grand Parade gave an undertaking in court yesterday he would stay away from the library and not threaten or assault staff.

Following evidence that John Long, aged 29, of no fixed abode, returned to the library after serving the jail term for assault, Cork City Council came to Cork Circuit Court with an application to have him restrained from attending at the building or interfering with staff.

Barrister Meg Burke told Judge David Riordan she had explained to Long the terms of the injunction being sought against him, and that he had agreed to give an undertaking to stay away from the library and staff.

Judge Riordan told Long that if he broke that undertaking he could end up in prison. Long got a six-month jail sentence earlier this year for assaulting library caretaker, Declan Barron and assaulting another member of the library staff, Helen McGonagle.

Frank Buttimer, defence solicitor, said at the time that Long was someone who did need intervention.

Inspector Gary McPolin said at the sentencing hearing that Long caused severe disruption in the foyer of the library on the day in question. Initially he threw a bottle of water at staff. He then went around the counter, squirted water in Mr Barron’s face and pushed him over. Long admitted this assault and the assault on Ms McGonagle.