Man shouted racial abuse at passerby on East Cork street

Accused called victim a 'rat' and a 'Paki c**t, court heard

Accused had been drinking vodka before the incident and could not remember it, court told.

The behaviour of a man who shouted racial abuse at another man who was walking down the street was described as outrageous by a district court judge.

Sergeant Majella O’Sullivan told Youghal District Court the incident occurred on the afternoon of September 2, 2024, on Main Street in Youghal. The victim reported he had been approached by the accused, Eugene Quirke, 47 of South Main Street, Youghal, who began to verbally abuse him.

The court heard Mr Quirke asked the victim: “What the fuck are you looking at?” And called him a “rat” and a “Paki cunt”. 

When the injured party told Mr Quirke not to threaten him, the accused “came up behind him and said: "I will threaten you.”

Defence solicitor James Moore said his client had been drinking vodka before the incident and could not remember it. He said Mr Quirke deeply regretted it and did not dispute what happened. 

He said his client would apologise to the injured party but was advised to have no contact with him. He said although Mr Quirke had 15 previous convictions, the most recent was 11 years ago.

Judge Brian O’Shea said: “How can someone go from repairing the boardwalk to going out and insulting and abusing a man in a racist way? The excuse that he was drunk makes it even worse, that he got so drunk he went out and did this.”

Judge O’Shea adjourned the matter to allow Mr Quirke to gather €400 in compensation for the injured party and to write a letter of apology. 

He said if this was done, Mr Quirke would be convicted and fined €300. The judge said the alternative would be a three-month prison sentence.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme