Drunk man forced lifeguards to clear the water at packed West Cork beach 

A Cork man who had to be removed from the water at a packed beach on one of the hottest days of the year has pleaded guilty to multiple public order offences connected with the incident and two others.

Court presenter Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Bantry District Court that Tom Walker, aged 20 of Dromleigh, Bantry, Co Cork, faced five charges arising from three separate incidents in West Cork.

The court heard that on August 8, 2024, gardaí were called to assist an ambulance crew at Hospital Road, Bantry, where Walker was in a highly intoxicated state and being abusive towards the ambulance crew. 

Walker also had cuts to his face and legs and was refusing to go to hospital for assistance. On that occasion, he was charged with being drunk in public and with threatening and abusive behaviour.

The court was told that on June 6, 2025, gardaí were called to assist a male who was lying in the street at 12.45am at Dromleigh in Bantry. The man was identified as Walker, who was charged with being drunk in public.

The final incident occurred at 4pm at the Warren Strand, Rosscarbery on July 12, 2025. The beach was packed with up to 1,000 people, including many families and children, on one of the hottest days of the year.

The court was told that Walker, who was highly intoxicated, was requested to leave the water by lifeguards for his own safety and became abusive, threatening to “slash” them.

Walker was bleeding from his hand and gardaí and lifeguards had to clear the water for public safety in order to remove him.

Shouting abuse at gardaí

Walker was brought to the beach on a surfboard and initially seemed to be passed out. When he stood up, he became abusive and began shouting obscenities at the gardaí and lifeguards. He was arrested and continued to be highly abusive to gardaí as he was transported to Clonakilty Garda Station.

He told one garda: “Your father should have rubbed you out on the sheets,” while he told another: “Your mother should have drowned you at birth.”

Walker continued the abuse, calling one garda a “thick fat stupid c**t” before threatening to “shove that baton up your arse like your mother loves it”. He was charged with threatening and abusive behaviour and being drunk in public.

The court was told that Walker had 20 previous convictions, mostly for public order offences, including one for assault causing harm.

He court also heard that Walker was on a 10-month suspended sentence at the time of the incident in Rosscarbery.

Defence solicitor Flor Murphy said Walker had a tough upbringing, and was abandoned by his mother who went to England. His father, who was believed to be in Dublin, had no contact with him. He said that his client had been in hospital for psychiatric treatment for the past six to seven weeks and was effectively living rough.

Walker said of the Rosscsarbery incident: “I had a bit of a fit. It shouldn’t have happened and it won’t happen again. I was well drunk. I was bang out of order.”

Judge Joanne Carroll said: “Do you know a lot of children look forward to going to the beach all winter long, and then what happens? Mr Walker comes along and ruins the day for us.”

She said that Walker was previously advised to seek residential treatment for his alcohol problem but his commitment has been “lacking”. She said that “actions speak louder than words” and said she would be seeking a probation report before deciding how to proceed.

Walker was remanded in custody to appear again by video link at Clonakilty District Court on September 16.

• This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme