Cork man told garda: 'I will get you in court, you fucking mog'

Court hears defendant was seen at soup kitchen on St Patrick’s Street, throwing food items in the direction of staff members

At Cork District Court, Ian O’Sullivan of Cork Simon Community was sentenced to four months in jail.

A Cork man aged 42 who was arrested in Cork city centre on Christmas week verbally abused the officer, saying: “Fuck you. I will get you in court, you fucking mog.” 

At Cork District Court on Friday, Ian O’Sullivan of Cork Simon Community was sentenced to four months in jail by Judge Mary Dorgan after pleading guilty to various counts.

The judge said the threatening comments were “unedifying to say the least — very inappropriate”.

Defence solicitor Joseph Cuddigan said: “He has an alcohol problem. He is making efforts to deal with it. But he is put out the door of Cork Prison; [on his release he has] no fixed abode; the inevitable occurs and he takes a drink for comfort and we are back at square one.

There is no halfway house for when a person gets out of custody. Once again he tries to remain sober but the odds are stacked against the poor man. If he got the proper support structure he would try to remain sober.

O’Sullivan pleaded guilty to several public order and related charges arising out of a number of incidents in Cork city last month.

At 9.20pm on December 20, 2023, the defendant was observed at the soup kitchen on St Patrick’s Street. He started throwing food items in the direction of staff members, causing annoyance and interfering with them. He was drunk and a danger to himself or others at the time.

Garda Vincent McCarthy observed the accused with five Lynx gift sets the following day in Cork city centre, entering a restaurant and asking staff if they wanted to buy them.

When he left this premises he was approached by Garda McCarthy and could not account for the purchase of the items.

This was also the occasion where the accused was threatening and abusive. He was arrested and charged with being threatening and abusive and being drunk and a source of danger to himself or others, and with handling stolen property.

As well as the total jail term of four months, the defendant was given a concurrent five-month term with the last month suspended.

Judge Dorgan said: “I will suspend the last month of that five months on condition that he enters a probation bond to abide by all their requirements and to attend for alcohol rehabilitation.”