'Out-of-control' Cork man with 135 previous convicted of public order offences

Defendant was found by gardaí 'roaring and shouting' in the street and continued to shout abuse at them and was arrested, court told

Judge said defendant was 'working his way through the statute book' and convicted and sentenced him to four months in prison on the obstruction charge Picture: Dan Linehan

A Cork man with 135 previous convictions pleaded guilty in the district court to three public order offences related to an incident in West Cork in October.

Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Clonakilty District Court gardaí were called to John L O’Sullivan Park near Rosscarbery on the night of October 13, 2025. When they arrived at 10.30pm, a man identified as Michael Maughan, aged 34, of John L O’Sullivan Park was “roaring and shouting” in the street.

Maughan then went into the house by the back door. Gardaí knocked on the door and were invited in by a family member. In the living room, gardaí attempted to calm Maughan, who, the court was told, was clearly intoxicated. Maughan stood up and shouted “fuck ye” at gardaí before pushing past them and leaving the house.

Outside, standing by the Garda patrol car, Maughan continued to behave aggressively, stood face to face with a garda while shouting abuse and was eventually arrested. 

Maughan resisted arrest and had to be handcuffed and was taken to Clonakilty Garda Station. In the patrol car en-route, he continued to behave in an aggressive manner and at the Garda station, he head-butted the custody hatch.

The court was told Maughan had 135 previous convictions, including two for public intoxication, two for threatening and abusive behaviour, and three for obstruction. The court heard Maughan was pleading guilty to public intoxication, threatening and abusive behaviour and obstruction, and apologised to the gardaí and the court for his behaviour.

Defence solicitor Flor Murphy said Maughan had been drinking with his brother that evening and an argument developed between them. The court heard Maughan’s stepfather described him as being “out of control”, and he was no longer welcome at the family home.

Judge John King said Maughan was “working his way through the statute book” and convicted and sentenced him to four months in prison on the obstruction charge. The other two charges were taken into consideration and the sentence was backdated to October 12 when Maughan went into custody.

This article was funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme