Man apologises to Cork gardaí for threatening to 'put a barge pole up your ass' 

Accused said he was embarrassed, remorseful and apologetic over the incident even though he did not remember it

Accused pleaded guilty to being so intoxicated that he was a danger, and engaging in threatening behaviour.

A 48-year-old man made a violent threat to gardaí, telling them what he would do to them with a barge pole but after several days in prison without intoxicants he said he was now embarrassed, remorseful and apologetic.

Stephen McNamara, of Cork Simon Community, said he could not even remember the incident but he accepted Garda evidence against him.

Sergeant Gearóid Davis said gardaí were dealing with an incident not involving Mr McNamara when the 48-year-old approached and chose to get involved.

“He had his fists clenched and said: ‘I’ll put a barge pole up your ass and I’ll kill you all, you f***ers’,” Sgt Davis said in respect of the defendant’s outburst on Washington Street, Cork, on November 21.

He pleaded guilty to being so intoxicated that he was a danger, and engaging in threatening behaviour.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said: “I spoke to him a while ago and he has absolutely no recollection of this. He has recovered again from multi-substance difficulties which reached a peak last week in Courtroom 3.

“I read out the prosecution evidence to him. He was mortified and wishes to apologise.” 

The defendant then added, by video link from prison, that at the time he was suffering multiple seizures and waking up regularly in a hospital bed.

He said he was without a doctor at the time but was now back on medication in prison. As for the gardaí he threatened on Washington Street, he said: “I am sorry. I didn’t mean it.” 

Judge Mary Dorgan imposed a one-month sentence on the accused.

She said to Mr McNamara: “You are looking much better. I hope you engage with the services when you get out of prison. And a bottle of vodka with your medication would not be a good idea.” 

Mr McNamara agreed with the judge and said: “I have a bit of light at the end of tunnel now. The epilepsy was killing me.” 

The accused and the judge wished each other a happy Christmas.