Cork man with 135 previous convictions sentenced for public order offences

A Cork man with 135 previous convictions pleaded guilty in the district court to three public order offences related to an incident in West Cork in October.

Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Clonakilty District Court that gardaí were called to John L O’Sullivan Park, near Rosscarbery, on the night of October 13, 2025.

When they arrived at 10.30pm, a man identified as Michael Maughan, aged 34, of John L O’Sullivan Park, was “roaring and shouting” in the street. Maughan then went into the house by the back door.

Gardaí knocked on the door, and they were invited in by a family member. In the living room, gardaí attempted to calm Maughan who, the court was told, was clearly intoxicated. Maughan stood up and shouted “fuck ye” at gardaí, pushing past them and leaving the house.

Outside, standing by the Garda patrol car, Maughan continued to behave aggressively, stood face to face with a garda while shouting abuse, and was arrested.

Maughan resisted arrest, had to be handcuffed, and was taken to Clonakilty Garda Station. In the patrol car en-route, he continued to behave in an aggressive manner.

At the Garda station, he head-butted the custody hatch. The court was told Maughan had 135 previous convictions, including two for public intoxication, two for threatening and abusive behaviour, and three for obstruction.

The court heard Maughan was pleading guilty to public intoxication, threatening and abusive behaviour, and obstruction. He apologised to the gardaí and the court for his behaviour.

Defence solicitor Flor Murphy said Maughan had been drinking with his brother, and an argument developed between them.

Judge John King said Maughan was “working his way through the statute book”, and convicted and sentenced him to four months in prison on the obstruction charge. The other two charges were taken into consideration, and the sentence was backdated to October 12 — when Maughan went into custody.

This article was funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme