Man who made 'offensive threats' to gardaí in Cork city jailed 

“Offensive threats” were made to gardaí in Cork city by a man who has now been jailed for two months.

George Arundel, aged 38, of no fixed address who was living at a guest house on Western Road, denied being intoxicated at 10pm at North Ring Road on February 19 but did say during a hearing of his case at Cork District Court: “I took four bags of heroin at half-eight that morning.”

Donal Daly, solicitor, cross-examined the defendant, saying the accused was not intoxicated. But the gardaí explained that the reason they stopped to talk to him was because he appeared to be intoxicated and that there was a strong smell of cannabis herb.

“He never smokes herb, he only smokes hash (resin), he says herb has a bad effect on him and hash doesn’t,” Mr Daly said.

Evidence

He added that Mr Aundel had a bag full of alcohol unopened at the time. The prosecution evidence was that some of it was open.

The solicitor said: “He says that absolutely he had words with you but never said he would rape anyone. He said he called you c***s and sleeveens.

Judge O’Leary said: “I am a Gaeilgeoir but I don’t know what (sleeveen) means. I know it is not a term of endearment.”

Evidence called by Inspector Brendan McKenna was that George Arundel said to the gardaí: “I’ll rape all belonging to you, you c***.” And that he later said: “You c***, you gowl.”

George Arundel testified: “I took four bags of heroin at half-eight that morning. I was not intoxicated. (In a bag) I had a naggin of vodka, two cans of Bulmers, and three one-litres of Linden village cider.

“I would always get beatings, sober or drunk. My brother was with me to make sure I would get back safe to the B&B. Cannabis was not mine. He (garda) must have picked it up off the ground. I don’t smoke herb. I smoke hash. It (herb) worsens my paranoia.”

Doubt

The defendant said his evidence was totally correct, adding: “A hundred million per cent. On my mother’s grave.”

Judge O’Leary said he had a small doubt on the intoxication charge and would dismiss it but had no doubt on the threatening charge, commenting how offensive the threats were.

“I think he is honest in his memory but mistaken. He does apologise – a small but important consolation.”

He was also convicted of being in possession of cannabis herb. When convicted, his previous convictions were outlined. They included a sentence of 10 years for sex crimes including rape in June 2012.

For his latest offence, a sentence of two months was imposed.