Gardaí chased man in crowded Cork train station on St Patrick’s Day, court told

The man was charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to lead to a breach of the peace

Garda Gallagher said the alleged incident occurred at Little Island train station at Kilcoolishal, Glounthaune, Cork, on St Patrick’s Day. File picture

Gardaí attempting to arrest a man on the busy platform of Little Island’s railway station on St Patrick’s Day observed him running through the crowd to get away from them – but on Tuesday he was remanded in custody.

The scenario at Little Island was described by Garda Mary Gallagher at Cork District Court on Tuesday following the man’s arrest.

36-year-old Mbuku Desire with an address at an apartment at 182 Clonliffe Road, Dublin 3, was charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to lead to a breach of the peace.

Garda Gallagher said the alleged incident occurred at Little Island train station at Kilcoolishal, Glounthaune, Cork, on St Patrick’s Day.

It was alleged that he ran along the railway platform at a time when it was busy with a lot of families out for the parades and celebrations.

As well as the public order charge, the defendant was charged under the Immigration Act with failing to produce on demand to a member of An Garda Síochána a valid passport or other equivalent document establishing his identity and nationality.

Shane Collins-Daly, solicitor, said the defendant is a national of the Republic of Congo.

“The problem is that he does not have any documentation. He is here since 2005 seeking asylum,” Mr Collins-Daly said.

Judge Miriam Walsh said: “He is an asylum seeker for 20 years and he has no documents – not a sausage. Not a single piece of paper.” Mr Collins-Daly said that in addition to this difficulty the defendant was unable to give him rational instructions in the case.

Judge Walsh refused bail and remanded the defendant in custody until March 25, on the application of Sergeant Gearóid Davis.