Man charged with racially abusing security staff member at Cork store

A 43-year-old man has been charged with racially abusing a member of security staff at a Cork store and holding up a glass ashtray towards him during the alleged incident.

Keith Dixon of Lower Glanmire Road, Mayfield, Cork, appeared in Cork District Court on charges brought against him by Sergeant Mark Leonard.

Mr Dixon is charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and production of an article – namely a glass ashtray - in the course of a dispute.

Sergeant John Kelleher outlined the allegations so that Judge Mary Dorgan could decide if the accused was accepting jurisdiction. The Director said summary jurisdiction would be acceptable. After hearing the outline of allegations, Judge Dorgan agreed.

“Keith Dixon had earlier in the day been detained by security at TK Maxx on Cornmarket Street.

“During this time, Mr Dixon left his phone in the security office and was arrested by gardaí. Following his release from garda custody, Mr Dixon returned to the store to retrieve his phone.

“He was asked by the security man to wait outside while his phone was retrieved.

“Keith Dixon then engaged in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour toward the security man, using racist language.

“It is alleged that he said, ‘n****r’ and ‘black bastard’ to the security man.

“During this interaction, Mr Dixon became more irate and Mr Dixon picked up an ashtray from a table outside and gestured that he was going to hit him with an ashtray. The security man rang gardaí and Mr Dixon then left the area,” Sergeant John Kelleher said in his outline of the allegations against the accused.

Diane Hallahan, solicitor, asked for a copy of the prosecution evidence to be sent to her.

The case was adjourned until February 9.