Cork man had to be pepper sprayed to be arrested, court told

A “very intoxicated” man who was found next to a crashed vehicle in the early hours of the morning had to be pepper sprayed so he could be arrested, the district court has heard.

Sergeant Trish O’Sullivan told Macroom District Court that gardaí attended a single-vehicle traffic accident at Glantane West, Carriganima, near Macroom, Co Cork, at 12.45am on August 31, 2025.

When they arrived at the scene, they met a man and woman standing beside the crashed vehicle. Both were described as being “very intoxicated”.

The man — identified as Jamie Lee, aged 22, with an address at Oughtherry, Rylane, Co Cork — told gardaí they “were not needed”, and initially gave gardaí incorrect details.

When gardaí arrested the woman for public intoxication, Lee became “very aggressive” and told them to “fuck off”.

Pepper sprayed

He eventually had to be pepper-sprayed to subdue him, and he was arrested and taken to Macroom Garda Station.

Lee was charged with being intoxicated in a public place, threatening and abusive behaviour, and obstructing a peace officer.

The court was told Lee had no previous convictions for public order offences, though he did have road traffic convictions.

Defence solicitor Jack Purcell told the court Lee, who was pleading guilty, had assured him he did not drink anymore and was currently in the process of applying for work in a local supermarket.

He said his client had other charges pending for motoring offences in another court.

Judge Joanne Carroll said the vehicle Lee was standing beside at the time of his arrest was involved in a single vehicle collision.

She asked the Probation Service to prepare a probation report and adjourned the matter to April 15 to allow time for it to be completed.

• This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme