Jail for 800 metre runner who threatened gardaí in Cork

One of the fastest 800-metre runners in Ireland threatened gardaí during a recent incident: “I’ll f*** ye up like I did before.” 

Sergeant Pat Lyons outlined at Cork District Court what happened at Sullivan’s Quay, Cork, on September 12. Gardaí went to the scene at 8.45am that morning following a report of a man causing a nuisance.

The guards spoke to Sekeriye Axmed at the scene. He provided gardaí with a false name and date of birth on a number of occasions.

“Mr Axmed was clearly intoxicated. He was unsteady on his feet and a there was a strong smell of alcohol. He became abusive to gardaí in view of members of the public, stating, 'I’ll f*** ye up like I did before'." 

The reason he gave the false details was that he was aware that there were two bench warrants in existence for him.

Judge Olann Kelleher jailed the young man for two months for his threatening behaviour towards gardaí and shorter concurrent sentences for failing to give his name to gardaí and being drunk and a danger. Mr Axmed was convicted five times previously for his threatening behaviour.

Eddie Burke, solicitor, said the 23-year-old man was originally from Somalia, and in Ireland he was “the third best 800-metre runner in the country”. 

The solicitor said: “He drifted away from home and ended up couch-surfing and eventually homeless.” Noting the defendant’s 22 previous convictions and three more in the latest incident, Judge Kelleher said: “It is up to himself when he wants to stop.”