Cork man avoids jail for putting his elderly parents in fear while drunk

The court heard that the accused had taken matters in hand and dealt with his drink problem and his behaviour

The judge imposed consecutive four-month sentences on the accused man who pleaded guilty to breaching protection orders and putting both of his parents in fear. File picture: Larry Cummins

An elderly man was pushed and shouted at by his 40-year-old son who was drinking vodka all day putting the victim in such fear that he called the gardaí, Cork District Court heard on Monday.

And there was a second incident the following month where he put his mother in fear with his drunken behaviour. Both matters were described during an in camera hearing at the court to deal with the charges brought under the Domestic Violence Act.

Judge Brian O’Shea said: “They are particularly mean-spirited offences, causing this harm to your parents.” The judge imposed consecutive four-month sentences on the accused man who pleaded guilty to breaching protection orders and putting both of his parents in fear.

The judge said it was a difficult thing for a mother to go and get out of a protection order against her own son. And he said that to do so should be sufficient to stop the respondent causing any further difficulties as to do so would firstly be an offence against his parent but be in breach of a court order.

In light of the fact that the accused had taken matters in hand and dealt with his drink problem and his behaviour the judge said he would suspend the total sentence of eight months. 

Judge O’Shea took particular note of the fact that the defendant’s mother had come to court to speak well of him and the fact that he is no longer causing trouble at home.

The judge also took account of evidence in mitigation put forward by defence solicitor, Aoife Buttimer, and said that his plea of guilty had spared the victims the necessity of giving evidence in a trial at Cork District Court.

Sergeant John Dineen said that on July 24, 2024, the defendant was drunk and abusive to his father and pushed him out of the way during a disturbance that resulted in gardaí having to be called.

There was a second incident the following month on August 18, 2024, when the same accused put his mother in fear in breach of a protection order. She was in fear of him because he was shouting and roaring at her in the family home when he was intoxicated.

He pleaded guilty to two charges under the Domestic Violence Act — one count in respect of each of his parents. Judge O’Shea said there were reporting restrictions in relation to identification.