Father of nine arrested for public order offence 'taking positive steps', court told

The judge adjourned the matter to March 11, 2026, for an update on the defendant's progress in dealing with his addiction issues

The court heard that when Gda Murphy enquired about his well being the accused told him to 'get fucked'. File photo

A Cork man who was arrested for being drunk in public and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour is “taking positive steps” to put his life in order for “the first time in a long time”, the district court has heard.

Court presenter Sergeant Majella O’Sullivan told Youghal District Court that gardaí received a report of a male causing a disturbance at South Main Street, Youghal on June 30, 2025. When garda Alan Murphy attended the scene he came upon 38-year-old Michael McDonagh of Cloonlough, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork.

The court was told that McDonagh was stumbling and slurring his words and appeared to be highly intoxicated. When Gda Murphy enquired about his well being McDonagh told him to “get fucked”. 

McDonagh was arrested for his own safety and the safety of others and charged with public intoxication and threatening and abusive behaviour.

Defence solicitor James Moore said McDonagh was the father of nine children under the age of 18 and had a difficult past himself. He said his client was very apologetic and had been engaging with alcohol treatment services. 

The court was told McDonagh was due to begin a residential treatment programme in four weeks' time. Mr Moore said McDonagh was “on a good path at the moment” and was “taking positive steps” to put his life in order for “the first time in a long time.” 

He asked Judge Miriam Walsh to consider a lenient penalty given McDonagh’s recent progress. The court was told that McDonagh had 30 previous convictions including four for intoxication and four for threatening and abusive behaviour.

Judge Walsh said McDonagh had been given “plenty of chances in the past”. She said Gda Murphy “gets up every morning he is on shift and goes out to protect everybody else from people like you and you have the cheek to turn around and tell him to ‘get fucked’.” 

Judge Walsh accepted that McDonagh did seem to be making a genuine effort to deal with his addiction issues and she adjourned the matter to March 11, 2026, for an update on his progress.

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