Cork man's abuse of garda 'a cry for help', court told

Man found in highly intoxicated state, staggering and slurring his words. He was arrested for his own safety and the safety of others

The court heard the defendant was arrested for his own safety and the safety of others and taken to Youghal Garda Station. File picture: Denis Minihane

A Cork man suffering from ongoing alcohol dependency issues shouted abuse at a garda after he was found lying unconscious on a bench in a busy town, the district court has heard.

Court presenter Sergeant Linda O’Leary told Youghal District Court that Christopher Moloney, aged 31, with an address at Ardrath Crescent, Youghal, Co Cork, was charged with two counts of public intoxication and one count of threatening and abusive behaviour in relation to two separate incidents in Youghal Co. Cork.

On May 17, 2025, Moloney was observed lying unconscious on a bench at Barry’s Lane in the centre of Youghal at 5.40pm. When he was awoken he could not stand up and was deemed to be highly intoxicated. 

When gardaí attempted to arrest him, Moloney became abusive and called one of the arresting officers a “faggot”. 

On the second occasion Moloney was walking along North Main Street in Youghal at 5.50pm on April 4, 2026. 

Moloney approached a Garda van that was in the area and was described as being in a highly intoxicated state, staggering and slurring his words. Moloney was arrested for his own safety and the safety of others and taken to Youghal Garda Station.

The court heard that Moloney had 43 previous convictions including 14 for public intoxication and nine for threatening and abusive behaviour. 

 Vicki Buckley, defending, said Moloney’s most recent arrest was effectively “a cry for help”. 

She said the father of two had not previously been in residential treatment for his addiction but was now taking steps to enter a treatment programme.

Judge John O’Leary convicted and fined Moloney €200 for the incident in April 2026. For the two charges from 2025 he remanded him on continuing bail to appear again on October 14, 2026, for sentencing. 

He said the outcome would be dependent on Moloney’s engagement with the Probation Service in the meantime with a view to entering treatment and engaging in restorative justice.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme