Cork man fined €200 for being abusive to gardaí

Gardaí seizing a stolen car were video recorded by a passing motorist who was also verbally abusive but he later apologised for his behaviour.

Stephen Greaney, aged 46, of Glenavannig, Sunvalley Drive, Fair Hill, pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

Sergeant John Kelleher said the incident occurred at around 6pm on November 19, 2024, when gardaí were dealing with the recovery of a vehicle at Kilmore Road, Knocknaheeny. The vehicle had been stolen approximately three hours earlier.

“Stephen Greaney drove by the scene and appeared to gardaí to be recording the incident on his mobile phone when driving.

“Having been stopped by gardaí at the side of the road he alighted from his vehicle. He was irate and began shouting and roaring at gardaí in an aggressive manner. He made his way to the middle of the road in the way of oncoming traffic and was advised by Garda John Kerins to step off the road and onto the footpath for his own safety.

“In doing so, Stephen Greaney began shouting at Garda Kerins in an aggressive manner, saying, ‘Why should I get off the f***ing road when you won’t get off the f***ing footpath and do your f***ing job?’

“There were a number of members of the public present at the time. He was arrested and conveyed to Gurranabraher garda station,” Sgt Kelleher said.

The sergeant added in fairness to the defendant that when he went to leave the garda station he was very apologetic for his outburst.

Defence solicitor Killian McCarthy said that this was a very fair description of what happened. He added that the defendant had already been convicted and fined and given penalty points for using his mobile phone when driving.

The defendant spoke up to say that he was nearly struck by the stolen car and that this was the only reason he took out his phone to record what was happening. He added that a guard shouted at him and he shouted back.

Mr McCarthy said on the defendant’s behalf: “He is apologetic absolutely for not handling the situation correctly. Unfortunately, he let himself massively down. He came across this situation and was nearly the victim of a collision which is why he slowed down and recorded this.”

Judge Mary Dorgan said: “The kind of language used was bad.”

She imposed a €200 fine on him for using these threatening or abusive words.