Man did not turn up to court because 'he didn’t know what day it was'

The court was told the accused had 10 previous convictions, all for public order offences

The defendant was fined and sentenced to one month in prison. File photo

A bench warrant had to be issued to bring an accused man before Youghal District Court as he did not turn up on a previous occasion because “he didn’t know what day it was,” the court heard.

Court presenter Sergeant Majella O’Sullivan told the court that Krystian Bernat, aged 39 with an address at Cork Simon Community, Andersons Quay, Cork was charged with public intoxication and threatening and abusive behaviour.

The court was told gardaí were called to an incident at Summerfield Cross in Youghal on October 1, 2025. When they arrived Bernat was in a highly intoxicated state and almost fell off the footpath into oncoming traffic. 

Bernat was shouting and swearing and threatened gardaí and he was arrested for his own safety and the safety of others. The court was told he had 10 previous convictions, all for public order offences.

Bernat’s solicitor, Vicky Buckley, said he was a chronic alcoholic and he didn’t turn up in court before to address the charges because he “didn’t know what day it was”. Ms Buckley said Bernat was effectively homeless and was in very difficult circumstances.

For public intoxication, Judge Miriam Walsh fined Bernat €20 which forfeited a previous cash bail lodgement. For threatening and abusive behaviour he was sentenced to one month in prison.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme