Cork man avoids jail sentence following drunken row with bus driver

The defendant called the gardaí because of a refusal by a bus driver to let him board a bus.

A young man arguing about a driver refusing to allow him on to a bus in Cork city centre almost four months ago continued the argument in court, saying “if I was blood sober the same driver wouldn’t let me on the bus”.

Sergeant Gearóid Davis said the drunken incident involving Craig O’Sullivan of 24 Curraheen Drive, Bishopstown, Cork, occurred at around 8pm on July 4, 2023. The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of being intoxicated to such an extent that he was a danger to himself or others and engaging in threatening behaviour.

“Gardaí were dealing with a male who had been assaulted. They were approached by the accused who was verbally abusive to gardaí and irate that he was refused onto a bus.

“He left the area, returned to the bus and was verbally abusive to the bus driver and members of the public.

“He was highly intoxicated and unable to stand unaided. Craig O’Sullivan was arrested for his own safety and that of members of the public,” Sgt Davis said.

Craig O’Sullivan was convicted 16 times of the offence of being drunk and a danger and eight times for engaging in threatening behaviour.

Defence solicitor Frank Buttimer said it was worth noting in the present case that it was the defendant who called the gardaí because of a refusal by a bus driver to let him board the 208 bus.

“I can give you a very long history. There has been an issue between him and the bus driver. He doesn’t have an issue with any other bus driver,” the solicitor said.

Judge Mary Dorgan said that in this case the accused was intoxicated and he pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and this would be a reason for a bus driver to refuse someone entry onto a bus. It was at that point in the case that Mr O’Sullivan expressed his belief that the particular driver would refuse him even if he was sober.

Judge Dorgan imposed a two-month suspended sentence at Cork District Court, adding: “When he sees that driver he will have to get the next bus, or walk. What we want is everything to settle down.”