Woman threatened after calling out racist abuse on Cork to Galway bus

A 51-year-old man told a female bus passenger that he would put her through the window of the Cork to Galway bus after she confronted him over offensive comments he was making about Jews and immigrants, a court has heard.

At Ennis District Court on Tuesday, Insp Morgan O’Donoghue said that the injured party in the case was travelling on the Expressway service from Cork to Galway on August 27th, 2024, at Glenbrack, Gort, Co Galway, when she overheard a male unknown to her make offensive comments about immigrants and Jews.

Insp O’Donoghue said that the woman confronted this male, Paul Druse, of no fixed abode in Co Galway and “told him to keep his opinions to himself" and in response Mr Druse called her "a witch" and told her he would "bash her through the window if she was a Jew".

Insp O’Donoghue said that Mr Druse then stood up and raised his fist before telling her he was going to put her through the window.

Insp O’Donoghue said that the woman subsequently moved to the rear of the bus, and CCTV was obtained by gardaí, which displayed the incident in its entirety.

Judge Alec Gabbett imposed a two-month prison term on Mr Druse after he pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace contrary to Section 6 of the Public Order Act on the date.

Judge Gabbett said that:

“You can’t be frightening people on public transport with racist commentary – it is not acceptable”.

Insp O’Donoghue said Mr Druse has 158 previous convictions, and three of Mr Druse’s previous convictions concern “sex offender lists” and he had 11 previous convictions for Section 6 of the Public Order Act.

The court heard that Mr Druse is a native of Northern Ireland and his 158 previous convictions include 49 from Northern Ireland, but no further detail was provided on his Northern Ireland convictions.

Judge Gabbett asked if the woman was of the Jewish faith and Insp O’Donoghue said no.

Insp O’Donoghue described the comments made by Mr Druse as "flippant".

Mr Druse is currently serving a sentence and is not due for release until July of this year. 

From the custody suite in court, he told Judge Gabbett: 

“I have had awful trouble from drink over the years and I am not that type of person when sober."

Mr Druse told Judge Gabbett that he is now addressing his drink problem in prison. He said: "I am going to turn away from drink."

Solicitor, Daragh Hassett said that his client, Mr Druse has significant mental health problems and was “ranting and raving unforuntately” on the bus.

Mr Hassett said that his client “wasn’t well at the time and wasn’t thinking straight”.

Mr Hassett said that Mr Druse “meant no harm and I am sure the lady was very upset. He apologises profusely for his very, very bad behaviour. She didn’t deserve what she got but he wasn’t singling her out. He wasn't well.”