Man fined under Public Order Act for offences committed outside Cork pub 

A young man expecting to hear his girlfriend’s voice at the other end of a phone call was instead greeted by another man’s voice telling him she would not be coming out to meet him.

This eventually resulted in the caller being convicted at Cork District Court under the Public Order Act for his behaviour outside the pub where he expected to meet the young woman.

Twenty-eight-year-old Laurentiu Muntean of Dun Eoin, Carrigaline, pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening or abusive words or behaviour and failing to leave the scene of a disturbance.

Judge Mary Dorgan convicted and fined him €100 on the threatening count and €350 for the failure to comply with An Garda Síochána.

The incident occurred on January 27 outside Seventy Seven on Grand Parade, Cork.

Laurentiu Muntean swung at a customer from the pub who had stepped out for a cigarette. Gardaí were called by staff at the premises and they later observed the incident on CCTV.

Garda Cian Foley directed the young man to leave the area or he would be arrested on suspicion of having committed the threatening offence, however, Laurentiu Muntean refused to comply with the direction of Garda Foley and was subsequently arrested.

Defence solicitor Frank Buttimer said: “This man attempted to make contact with his girlfriend. He rang her phone to say he was outside this premises.

“The phone was answered by a male person saying the intended person would not be out.

“That person then came out and there was an encounter — very brief, may I say.

“The gardaí said he should be about his business. He is a non-national and he did not pick up that an offence might arise over not leaving.

“There was no assault charge. It is all over,” Mr Buttimer said, explaining there was no further animosity.

Judge Dorgan asked the young man directly: “Have you apologised?”

He replied: “I have, yes.”