Man sentenced after pleading guilty to offences including being threatening and abusive, and being drunk and a danger

A man used his phone to make a video recording of gardaí when they directed him to leave the scene of a disturbance and now he has been given a six-month suspended sentence and fines totalling €400 for his behaviour on the evening.

31-year-old Stephen Callis of Cathedral Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, came to the attention of gardaí when they were investigating a matter not related to the accused at Hawthorn Villas, Park Avenue, South Douglas Road.

Now at Cork District Court, Callis has pleaded guilty to not giving gardaí information on his identity, obstructing them, being threatening and abusive and being drunk and a danger. Judge Olann Kelleher imposed the suspended sentence and the fines.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said: 

“There was some altercation. It was not of Mr Callis’s making. He left some prescribed medication back at the property and went to retrieve it.” 

Garda Shane Hayes previously stated: “When he was directed to leave the area he began recording gardaí. He did leave eventually but we were informed by six or seven neighbours that he was waiting around in the back garden of the property. As we were leaving we encountered him again. He was highly intoxicated and very abusive. 

"He was shouting at us and drinking from cans of beer. When informed he was being arrested he started pushing us away, shouting very loudly. A lot of residents were present in this area."

Stephen Callis failed to appear in court for his case and Judge Olann Kelleher convicted him in his absence. The accused had a previous obstruction conviction as well as five for engaging in threatening behaviour and ten for being drunk and a danger.

Originally, gardaí were called to an apartment complex in Douglas because of the sound of crying and concerns that residents had for the welfare of children. This issue was resolved and after officers looked into the matter there were no concerns for the safety of the children. However, another matter arose while they were there – and that was in effect the disturbance caused by Callis.