Man put in fear after Cobh man demanded payment for son's drug debt, court told

The defendant's barrister told the court: 'At the time of the offence he would have been in a manic state as a result of the abuse of alcohol and drugs'

Judge Boyle said she would adjourn sentencing until October 29 but warned the young man at Cork Circuit Criminal Court: 'He is obviously on hazard of a custodial sentence.' File picture: Larry Cummins

A middle-aged man was put in fear by a man who approached him as soon as he stepped out of a shop in the Cobh area and made a demand with menaces for the payment of his son’s drug debt.

Detective Garda Peter Moran testified that on September 30, 2023, Cian Mannix approached the injured party outside Centra at Rushbrook, Cobh, and demanded the payment of over €1,300, being a drugs debt accrued by the man’s son.

In making this demand with menaces, the defendant made specific reference to the man’s other children by name, Det. Garda Moran said. The detective said the man was put in such fear by the nature of the demand that it took him two months before he felt able to make a complaint to An Garda Síochána.

Gardaí called to the home of Cian Mannix in Cobh, County Cork, and arrested him on the charge of demanding money with menaces. When questioned later in relation to the matter he replied to every question: “No comment on instructions of my solicitor.” 

The 23-year-old had previous convictions including one for assault, another for assault causing harm and engaging in threatening behaviour. Alan O’Dwyer, defence barrister, said the defendant would have been under the influence of others when he carried out this crime.

Mr O’Dwyer said the defendant had written a letter of apology. “At the time of the offence he would have been in a manic state as a result of the abuse of alcohol and drugs,” Mr O’Dwyer said.

The defendant has spent a total of five months on remand in custody as a result of the crime. Mr O’Dwyer said this had a sobering effect on him and that he wanted to turn his life around.

Judge Boyle said she would adjourn sentencing until October 29 but warned the young man at Cork Circuit Criminal Court: “He is obviously on hazard of a custodial sentence.”