Six weeks jail for man who called gardaí 'fat pigs'

“Fat pigs” was the term of abuse a young man had for gardaí at the height of a disturbance in Carrigaline, and now he has been jailed for six weeks.

John Burke, aged 28, with an address at 47 Laurel Ridge, Shanakiel, Cork, was jailed by Judge Mary Dorgan.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy said gardaí went to Cúl na Cille, Church Hill, Carrigaline, County Cork, where there was a report of a highly intoxicated young man.

“He was highly abusive towards gardaí, calling them fat pigs,” Ms Murphy said.

In a second more recent incident on February 27, relatives concerned about his highly intoxicated state brought him to Gurranabraher garda station, where he was arrested for his own safety.

Burke pleaded guilty to two counts of being drunk and a danger and one count of engaging in threatening behaviour, arising out of these two incidents.

Ms Murphy said the young man had 80 previous convictions, including 13 previous counts of being drunk and a danger and six of threatening behaviour.

Solicitor Shane Collins-Daly appeared in Cork District Court for the accused, who appeared by video link from prison. He apologised on the defendant’s behalf.

“He has had a lot of difficulties in his life, with a traumatic childhood. He is capable of leading a healthy lifestyle – he is a very young man and very keen to get out of custody,” Mr Collins-Daly said.

Regarding the defendant looking forward to getting out of custody and leading a life without crime, Judge Dorgan said to the young man, “I really hope you do.”