Drunk man who verbally abused Cork gardaí and told them to f*** off avoids jail

In a second incident in the city centre, gardaí received a report of a man being restrained following an assault on security staff. They arrived to see the defendant lying on the ground highly intoxicated

A 59-year-old man squared up to gardaí during a drunken incident in Cork City and verbally abused them, and now he has been given an eight-week suspended jail sentence.

Alan Healy, of Cork Simon Community, appeared at Cork District Court, where he pleaded guilty to being so intoxicated he was a danger to himself or others and engaging in threatening behaviour during two separate incidents in Cork City.

Judge John King imposed the suspended jail sentence.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the difficulty that arose for Mr Healy was when he was released from a prison sentence in October and did not have any immediate arrangements for accommodation, he got involved in the offences on which he was charged and to which he pleaded guilty.

Since that time, he has settled down with the assistance of the Simon Community which has organised full-time accommodation for him, as well as a key worker who is assisting him, Mr Buttimer said.

Sergeant Gearóid Davis said on October 10 last, gardaí observed two men acting aggressively on St Patrick Street, Cork. Gardaí spoke with both parties.

“Alan Healy, of no fixed address, was intoxicated and became abusive in front of members of the public. Alan Healy told gardaí to f*** off and squared up to Garda Michael Finn. He was arrested for being a danger to himself and others and using threatening and abusive language,” Sgt Davis said.

In a second incident in the city centre around this time, gardaí received a report of a man being restrained following an assault on security staff. They arrived to see the defendant lying on the ground highly intoxicated.

“As they approached him, he was intoxicated, staggering and shouting and cursing at them. This male was identified as Alan Healy and was subsequently arrested and charged by Garda Aolfe McCarthy,” Sgt Davis said.