Drunk Cork man who caused disturbance in city hotel tried to headbutt attending garda 

Accused was aggressive to staff at the Premier Inn before gardaí arrived, court heard

The incident occurred in the Premier Inn on Morrison's Quay.

Gardaí were called to the Premier Inn hotel on Morrison’s Island in Cork, where a drunken customer was no longer welcome and when they arrived the young man lunged at one of the gardaí and tried to headbutt him.

On Tuesday, it emerged in Cork District Court the young man in the hotel that night was due before the court the next day to face sentencing on a drug-dealing charge.

Inspector Mark Keating said 21-year-old Ciarán Maguire, of Woodbrook, Glanmire, Co Cork, behaved in that threatening manner at the hotel at about 10pm on December 10, 2024. He was arrested, charged and released. 

On December 11, 2024, he came to court and received a three-month suspended sentence for having drugs for sale or supply to others on a much earlier occasion.

On the night of December 10, he was aggressive to staff at the hotel and extended this to gardaí on their arrival. Insp Keating said while the young man lunged at a garda, he did not make contact with him.

Judge Joanne Carroll commented: “He was in the Premier Inn and he created total upset.” 

Aoife Buttimer, defence solicitor, described him as a young man who is easily led but he had not taken any intoxicant since this occurred last month.

“He has isolated himself from associates. He is embarrassed and has instructed me to apologise,” Ms Buttimer said.

Judge Carroll said: “He has used up all of his opportunities. I will remand him on bail to April 22 [for sentencing]. A very persuasive plea would need to be put together.”