'I might as well while I’m here,' said Cork man when asked if he admitted new charges

James Conway was sentenced to a total of one month in prison which will run concurrently with the five months he was serving already

James Conway was found highly intoxicated outside Son of a Bun on MacCurtain Street on July 11 at 2.45pm where he was causing hassle to passers-by, the court heard. File picture: Dan Linehan

A prisoner appearing in court by video link from prison on new public order charges was asked if he was pleading guilty and he replied — to laughter in court — “I might as well while I’m here.” 

50-year-old James Conway of Old Farmhouse, Carrignafoy, Cobh, County Cork, was sentenced to a total of one month in prison which will run concurrently with the five months he was serving already.

After the sentence was imposed, Mr Conway spoke up again on the video link: “Am I going to be here over Christmas?” Judge Mary Dorgan said the one month imposed on Tuesday would not increase the five months he was already serving as it was a concurrent sentence.

Sergeant Gearóid Davis outlined the background to two latest incidents. “Gardaí were alerted to a highly intoxicated man outside Son of a Bun on MacCurtain Street on July 11 at 2.45pm where he was causing hassle to passers-by.

“When Garda Kate Sheehan went to arrest him he tried to push past her and flee the scene. He shouted, ‘F*** you, you stupid bitch’. He had to be handcuffed and taken away from the scene,” Sgt Davis said.

One week later he was causing a drunken disturbance at Kent Railway station at lunchtime on July 18 and again he was telling gardaí to f*** off.

He pleaded guilty to being threatening and intoxicated during both incidents. He had 38 previous convictions for drunkenness and seven for engaging in threatening behaviour.