Prisons have 'taken on a Ryanair approach' when it comes to prisoners, says Cork judge

Judge Colm Roberts made the remarks in Mallow District Court when he sentenced a man for two public order offences

Judge Colm Roberts suggested that an offender could opt for a prison sentence over paying a fine because he would probably be out again in five minutes. File photo

Prisons are now operating a "Ryanair approach" of getting people in and out in minutes, a Cork judge has said.

Judge Colm Roberts suggested that an offender could opt for a prison sentence over paying a fine because he would probably be out again in five minutes.

“They’ve taken on a Ryanair approach. I think they’re doing 10-minute turnarounds now,” Judge Roberts said in Mallow District Court.

Darius Bednarczyk, age 53, was in court on two bench warrants.

One was for a €200 fine, unpaid since March 2021, and the other was for two public order offences after he was accused of using threatening, abusive or insulting words to gardaí.

His solicitor, Cathal Lombard, said that Mr Bednarczyk was currently living in the Simon Community in Cork City.

“Because of his difficult circumstances, I will not give him jail,” Judge Roberts said.

He suspended a one-month prison sentence for 12 months.

“But he is not allowed to be drunk in public,” Judge Roberts said. 

He may not be able to stop himself from drinking but he can stop drinking in public. 

Mr Bednarczyk, who was aided in court by a Polish interpreter, said that he would pay a fine rather than go to prison.

But Judge Roberts said that prison “would probably be five minutes” and it would get him a lift back from Mallow to Cork City where he lives.

If the fine was not paid, he technically should serve five days in prison, but that would likely be 50 minutes at most, Judge Roberts said.

He was given until January to pay the fine.