'Aggressive' man threatened to throw shop staff off Cork City bridge into River Lee, court told

The judge imposed a sentence of 10 weeks on the defendant

The two staff members from Spar on MacCurtain Street dealt with an incident there before they ended up crossing the nearby Mary Elmes Bridge where they were threatened. File picture: Larry Cummins

Two men dealing with an incident at a shop on Cork City's MacCurtain Street ended up crossing the nearby Mary Elmes Bridge where they were threatened by a man who said he would throw both of them into the River Lee, acourt has heard.

41-year-old Roy O’Callaghan, with an address at an apartment at Bridgefield Close, Bishopstown, Cork, pleaded guilty to a charge of engaging in threatening behaviour.

Judge Mary Dorgan said this public order charge carried a maximum penalty of three months in prison and that the offence was at the higher end of such offences. The judge imposed a sentence of 10 weeks on him at Cork District Court.

While on foot patrol in Cork City, gardaí were approached by two members of staff from Spar, MacCurtain Street.

Sergeant Gearóid Davis said: “They told gardaí that there was an altercation on Mary Elmes Bridge with a group of people. The two identified Roy O'Callaghan as being aggressive and shouting at both of them.

“They told gardaí that the defendant was 'getting aggressive with us, threatening to throw us both over the bridge saying ‘I'll do it, watch me’. 

"At this point both of his fists were clenched and his chest puffed out. We didn't back away. He got right into our faces screaming numerous profanities."

“One injured party said of the accused ‘he was very aggressive.... The more he was shouting, the more riled up he was getting... 

There was spittle flying out of his mouth and onto my face. He said he was going to f*** the two of us into the river. 

"'I told him I wasn't afraid of him. He called me a fat f***er. He was badgering me in an aggressive threatening manner. His chest was forward and both fists were clenched’.” 

Solicitor Frank Buttimer said Roy O’Callaghan pleaded guilty to being threatening and abusive but that the reason he got involved in the first place was because he felt that the two men were blaming another party for taking something from the Spar shop. 

Mr Buttimer said whatever occurred in the shop did not involve Mr O’Callaghan.