Cork man who threatened to bite faces of gardaí gets suspended sentence

Man appears in court over abusive behaviour and being drunk and a danger

The man was given a two-month suspended sentence at Cork District Court.

A man threatened to bite the faces of gardaí and to cause them serious harm during a public order incident.

At Cork District Court he was given a two-month suspended sentence for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour and being drunk and a danger.

Judge Miriam Walsh imposed that suspended term on 20-year-old Tom Walker who is originally from Dromleigh, Bantry, Co Cork.

The judge said to the young man: “How dare you say that to the guards, ‘I will bite yer faces, ye c***s’.

“It would be more in your line to address them in a respectful fashion.” 

Judge Walsh then asked what message he had for the gardaí to be passed on to the guards he verbally abused. Tom Walker said: “If you could say I am sorry.” 

Sergeant John Dineen outlined the background to the incident: “On February 16, Detective Gardaí Desmond Cogan and Conor Cronin were on patrol on Caroline St at around midnight.

“Gardaí stopped and spoke to two males who were intoxicated and unsteady on their feet.

“While speaking to them one of the young men became highly abusive towards gardaí and threatened to 'bite yer faces, ye c***s’.

“He also said, ‘I’ll do a Section 4 assault on ye.'” Section 4 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act refers to an assault causing serious harm.

Sgt Dineen said: “The man then ran from gardaí and continued to shout abuse at them from the top of the street.

“A few moments later, gardaí again met this man on Winthrop St.

“Detective Garda Cogan arrested the man under the Public Order Act.

“He was placed in the patrol car. Tom Walker continued to act in a highly aggressive manner towards gardaí. He continued to threaten gardaí with assault while being conveyed to the Bridewell garda station.” 

He said the accused man was convicted eight times before for being so intoxicated that he was a danger and six times for engaging in threatening behaviour.

Solicitor Frank Buttimer said the accused had left West Cork and come to Cork city because of a combination of addiction problems and anti-social behaviour.

Judge Walsh suspended the sentence of two months on condition the man would keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the next six months.