Drunk Corkman who spat at gardaí ordered to do community service

Accused was aggressive towards passers-by on Cork City street and was verbally abusive towards gardaí when they arrived, court told

Accused had to be physically restrained by gardaí, court heard. Picture: Dan Linehan

A 30-year-old Cork man spat at gardaí during an incident in September 2022 and now at Cork District Court he has been ordered to do 180 hours of community service to avoid a jail term.

Christopher O’Connor, 30, of 18 Clonard, Ballyvolane, Cork, pleaded guilty to a number of charges against him. Sergeant Pat Lyons outlined the background to incidents that gave rise to the charges.

The most serious one was reported on Washington Street, Cork, after 9pm on September 22, 2022.

“There was a report of a man acting aggressively towards passers-by and customers in various business premises by squaring up to them.

“Upon arrival, gardaí met Christopher O’Connor who was unsteady on his feet and there was a strong smell of intoxicants from him and he clenched his fists at gardaí upon their arrival.

“He was also spitting at members of An Garda Síochána and verbally abusing them.

“He was arrested and brought to the Bridewell Garda Station. Throughout his arrest and transport to the cell within the station, he continued with his behaviour towards gardaí and had to be physically restrained,” Sgt Lyons said.

Mr O’Connor pleaded guilty to charges of being drunk and a danger and engaging in threatening behaviour.

He pleaded guilty to another incident where he was drunk and a danger to himself or others shortly before midnight on November 25, 2023, in Ballyvolane. Sgt Lyons said he was in such a state of intoxication that he could not give his name or address to gardaí.

Defence solicitor Frank Buttimer said: “He is a recovering alcoholic. He is two and a half months free of alcohol through his own efforts — he is not in any programme. Throughout 2023 he engaged with the probation service. 

Judge Mary Dorgan said the accused could do 180 hours of community service instead of serving two months in prison in respect of the spitting incident.

For the more recent drunkenness in Ballyvolane, Mr O’Connor was fined €200.

Judge Dorgan was told the accused had 16 previous convictions for being drunk and a danger and six for engaging in threatening behaviour.