Cork man entered gym he was barred from and spat on the floor, court told

Accused was also convicted of driving through pedestrian crossing in Cork City as people were crossing and laughing and swearing at them

CCTV showed accused spitting on the floor of the reception area of Mayfield Leisure Centre, court heard

Leisure centre staff had to contend with a young man who entered the gym despite being barred and then spat on the floor in the reception area when he was being told to leave.

Sergeant John Kelleher outlined this scenario at Cork Circuit Appeals Court, where 20-year-old James O’Reilly, of 3 Meelagh Drive, Mahon, Cork, appealed a number of sentences against him, including two months for this offence of trespassing at Mayfield Leisure Centre on September 4, 2023.

The duty manager contacted gardaí and informed them this young man was barred from the premises but had made his way into the gym despite being told he was barred.

Later at the reception area, CCTV showed James O’Reilly spitting on the floor of the reception area. A charge of engaging in threatening behaviour was taken into consideration with the trespass charge.

On June 4, 2023, he was seen driving carelessly on Washington Street and when Garda James O’Connell was dealing with him, he found he had a pickaxe handle in the driver’s door. When asked a number of questions afterwards by gardaí, he answered: "No comment" to all questions.

On the following day, Garda O’Connell again observed the same young man driving in Cork city centre.

“At about 5pm on the junction of Grand Parade and Washington Street, the pedestrian light was green and approximately 60 people began to cross the road from each direction. The defendant was driving from the southern side of Grand Parade and entered Washington Street through the pedestrian traffic without stopping or slowing.

“He was laughing, swearing and shouting out the open driver’s window at the pedestrians,” Sgt Kelleher said.

Orla Meere, barrister, said the defendant had a young family and was anxious to avoid the total custodial sentence of four months.

Judge Sinead Behan said she was particularly concerned about the disregard for public safety shown by the appellant. She said there had to be some element of a jail sentence. The judge said she would suspend two months of the total of four but he would have to serve the first two months.

Ms Meere asked for a deferral of this two months to spend some time with his young family.

Judge Behan refused to defer the sentence and said he was fortunate that because of the submissions made by the barrister that his sentence was being reduced rather than increased.

“But I won’t postpone it. This man needs to get on with it and face reality,” Judge Behan said.