'I hope your daughter dies,' drunken man said to garda

A member of An Garda Síochána was verbally abused at Little Island by a 49-year-old drunken man who declared, “I hope your daughter dies.” 

Mark Wolfe of Palm Springs, Well Road, Little Island, County Cork, appeared at Cork District Court where he pleaded guilty to charges of engaging in threatening or abusive words or behaviour and being so intoxicated that he was a danger to himself or others.

Judge Mary Dorgan said: “It was a horrible thing to say to the guard and very inappropriate.” 

Sergeant John Kelleher said gardaí were called to the KFC restaurant at Little Island business park on November 5 2023 where Mark Wolfe was verbally abusing staff.

Gardaí arrived and at the height of the incident when they were dealing with the 49-year-old, he said to one female member of An Garda Síochána, “I hope your daughter dies.” 

Mr Wolfe had eight previous convictions for intoxication and six for possession of drugs for sale or supply to others.

Frank Buttimer solicitor said this incident last November occurred on the same day he was released from prison where he had served a sentence.

“He decided to go to his father’s grave (whose tenth anniversary fell the previous August). He goes out to visit his father’s grave and has literally just been released from custody. He consumes a bottle of vodka,” Mr Buttimer said.

The solicitor said that when he gave the defendant a copy of the prosecution evidence, including his comment in relation to the guard’s daughter, Mr Buttimer said Mark Wolfe was horrified to hear what he had said.

“It was intemperate and inappropriate, he puts his hands up straight away. I am not sure what state of mind he was in on the day. He has ongoing alcohol difficulties. He is off alcohol for four weeks and he is going to AA meetings,” Mr Buttimer said.

In the course of the outline of the defendant’s circumstances the solicitor said that a daughter of Mr Wolfe had died some time ago.

Judge Dorgan said she would impose a ten-week prison sentence, suspended on condition that he engage with the probation service.