Man jailed for alcohol thefts ‘disrespectful’ towards garda in Cork city

A sentencing judge said that it was disappointing to see the disrespectful replies a man on multiple alcohol theft charges made to a garda.

Judge Mary Dorgan imposed a sentence of five months, with the last three months suspended, at Cork District Court, on 37-year-old Patrick O’Reilly, of no fixed address in Cork.

The judge said she was very disappointed to see that in one set of charges his reply after caution to each charge was to call the garda a “f***ing c***”. 

Judge Dorgan said one did not often see that kind of reply to charges, and that it was very disappointing.

The defendant spoke in court and said that it happened on a particularly bad night and alleged the garda had called him a scumbag and asked him why he didn’t f*** off back to Dublin.

He went on to say that he wanted to get out of Cork anyway as all of his friends in Cork were alcoholics. He said he was trying to get clear of drink through Alcoholics Anonymous and had the prospect of employment in Dublin.

Judge Dorgan said she hoped he would serve the two months to get clear of alcohol and get back to Dublin and start afresh.

On October 5, he stole alcohol at The Offie on Douglas St. The following day he stole alcohol from Lidl on Cornmarket St, and on October 10 he stole alcohol from Tesco Express on South Main St. 

The next day he stole a bottle of wine at South Link Service Station. The day after that, he stole more alcohol from the same shop, and on October 12 stole alcohol from Centra on the Grand Parade.

Solicitor Eddie Burke said his experience of the defendant was that he was respectful. He said his problem was all about alcohol and not drugs. He said the defendant, who is from Cavan, had not coped well with the deaths of his parents, and his life spiralled out of control.