Father 'became irate' when Cork gardaí questioned his son about stolen jacket, court told

The court heard it took 'a number of attempts' to put handcuffs on the father

The court heard that the suspect was spotted driving past a garda patrol car with his parents and they were pulled over outside the Riverside Hotel in Macroom. File picture: Dan Linehan

A Cork father became so irate that his son was being questioned by gardaí about an alleged stolen jacket he had to be arrested and handcuffed, the district court has heard.

Court presenter Inspector Anthony Harrington told Macroom District Court that gardaí had received a report of a jacket being stolen at 7.10pm on October 27, 2024. Investigating gardaí were informed that a particular individual had been seen wearing the stolen jacket.

Giving evidence, Sergeant Michael Kelleher told the court the suspect was spotted driving past his patrol car with his parents and they were pulled over outside the Riverside Hotel in Macroom.

The court heard that as gardaí questioned the suspect about the alleged theft, his father —  62-year-old Denis O’Driscoll, of Lower Codrum, Macroom, Co. Cork — who was a passenger in the car got out and began remonstrating with them.

Sgt Kelleher said O’Driscoll “got very vocal and very angry” and was repeatedly asked to step back on the footpath but was “coming around the back of the car” onto the road and was becoming more and more vocal and aggressive.

Sgt Kelleher said the area was busy at the time and O’Driscoll repeatedly refused to listen to garda instructions. O’Driscoll eventually had to be handcuffed and resisted arrest. The court heard it took “a number of attempts” to put the handcuffs on him.

Defence solicitor Patrick Goold said O’Driscoll had become so incensed because he was certain his son had not stolen the jacket which ultimately proved to be the case. Giving evidence, O’Driscoll said he did “nothing wrong” and alleged that Sgt Kelleher had kicked him in the leg causing him to fall on the ground.

Judge John King said it appeared that O’Driscoll “did a bit of roaring and shouting” and was “awkward towards the gardaí”. He said O’Driscoll was charged with disorderly conduct where a charge of obstruction would probably have been more appropriate.

The court heard that a fixed penalty notice was issued to O’Driscoll but the fine was not paid but no evidence of postage could be provided and Judge King dismissed the charge.

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