Probation Act for man on road to recovery after being arrested for own safety

A Cork man who had to be arrested for his own safety and the safety of others has faced up to his addiction issues and is on the road to recovery, the district court has heard.

Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Clonakilty District Court that Oisin O’Donovan, aged 27, of Bridge Street, Dunmanway, was charged with one count of possession of drugs and one count of being intoxicated in public in relation to two separate incidents.

The court was told that on June 18, 2024, a Garda patrol observed a male behaving in a suspicious manner on South Main Street in Bandon. The man — identified as O’Donovan — went into a nearby premises when he saw the gardaí. 

O’Donovan was searched and found to be in possession of cannabis valued at €50. The court heard O’Donovan admitted the drugs were his and for his own personal use.

On December 4, gardaí received a call from the Shamrock Bar on Market Square, Dunmanway, requesting assistance. When they arrived, O’Donovan, who was with his parents, was described as “going from very aggressive to sobbing”.

O’Donovan left the pub accompanied by his mother and two gardaí, who walked him to his home on nearby Bridge Street. Arriving at Bridge Street, O’Donovan became emotional again and could not be persuaded to go into the house and was eventually arrested for his own safety and the safety of others. 

The court heard O’Donovan had 19 previous convictions, including three for possession of illegal drugs.

Defence solicitor Myra Dinneen said O’Donovan had entered residential addiction treatment in December 2024 and was now living in Dublin and part of an aftercare programme. 

She said O’Donovan wanted to “put it all behind him”. She said O’Donovan suffered from addiction but was dealing with it. The court was told he had been working since his treatment began and was also in the process of going back to education.

Judge Joanne Carroll said she was impressed by the way O’Donovan was addressing his addiction, adding: “It’s obviously a long journey but he has made a very good start.” 

O’Donovan received the benefit of the Probation Act in relation to both charges.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme