Man who started arguments with random members of the public in Cork city jailed for multiple offences

A 45-year-old man who started arguments with random members of the public in Cork city centre just before Christmas pleaded guilty to several public order and shoplifting offences, against a background of 229 previous convictions.

Roy Twohig of Cork Simon Community was given a total sentence of six months by Judge Mary Dorgan at Cork District Court for his latest offences.

The most recent offences committed by Mr Twohig occurred two days before Christmas when he was involved in a number of incidents.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy said that on December 23, 2024, he was found to be so intoxicated that he was a danger to himself or others at Cornmarket St, Cork.

On the same date, he stole a navy puffer jacket from Marks & Spencer at Merchants Quay.

By 8pm that evening there were reports of Twohig, again in an intoxicated condition, walking through the city and starting arguments with members of the public.

Gardaí attended the scene and could not locate him.

Afterwards, there was a second call about him banging on the door of Cork Simon Community at Anderson’s Quay.

He was intoxicated and very emotional and arrested as he was a danger to himself, Sgt Murphy said.

Eddie Burke, solicitor, said the accused had been homeless for a long period of time and did go into addiction treatment in a centre in Drumcondra, Dublin, where he had been doing very well but unfortunately he had a slip and got into all of these recent difficulties.

“He has conveyed to the governor of the prison his wish is to get back into treatment,” Mr Burke told the court.