Drinking from paper cup filled from stolen Beamish keg ends in jail time

Accused pleaded guilty to handling stolen property

The accused was drunk and a danger to himself, the court was told.

Drinking stout from a paper cup filled from a stolen Beamish keg in a park resulted in a 42-year-old Cork man being sentenced to six months in prison.

Ian O’Sullivan, previously of Cherry Lawn, Church Road, Blackrock, Cork, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property on November 3, 2023.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy said: “On November 3 at midday, the defendant was seen in Bishop Lucey Park drinking stout from a paper cup on a bench. 

"Beside him was a stolen keg of Beamish stout which had been stolen from Ziggy’s Bar on Tuckey Street, Cork.” 

Also on November 3, the same defendant was drunk and a danger to himself or others at Paul Street, Cork.

On November 9, 2023, at St Patrick’s Street, he was seen falling around the street and shouting loudly, causing annoyance to young professionals at the adjacent bus stop.

He had an open container in his hand, which he was spilling and he attempted to enter a store.

"The accused then threw the open container of liquid into the shop, causing part of the floor to be soiled in the store,” Sgt Murphy said.

A conviction and sentence of the same defendant from last week triggered the application to activate an older six-month sentence.

Judge Mary Dorgan acceded to that application and activated the six-month sentence.

Sentences of up to five months on the new matters will run concurrently with the triggered six months.

Joseph Cuddigan, solicitor, said: “He unreservedly apologises for his behaviour. He has resolved to do something about it.”