Cork man who scratched car and spat in the face of motorist spared jail 

A motorist who was sitting in his car ended up wrestling on the ground with a man he did not know, who deliberately scratched his car with a key and spat in his face, the district court has heard.

Sergeant Trish O’Sullivan told Macroom District Court that Aidan Smoker, aged 46, of The Granary, Sleaveen Rd, Macroom, Co Cork, was charged with four offences relating to two separate incidents.

On August 18, 2024, the court was told Smoker had dialled 999 at 4.30pm and shouted abuse down the line to the emergency call taker. Gardaí were alerted and called to Smoker’s residence to check on his welfare. 

When they arrived, Smoker was abusive and appeared to be intoxicated before “lunging” at gardaí in the street outside his home.

The court heard on October 15, 2025, a motorist was sitting in his car parked at South Square, Macroom, when a man he did not know approached the car and deliberately scratched the bonnet with a key while he was sitting in the vehicle. The man was identified as Smoker by CCTV footage.

Wrestled

The court was told the injured party got out of the vehicle and attempted to restrain Smoker until gardaí arrived. Smoker wrestled the inured party to the ground and spat in his face before leaving the scene.

The court was told the victim believed Smoker was highly intoxicated at the time. The court heard Smoker had two previous convictions for public order offences.

Sean Cahill, defending, said Smoker, who was pleading guilty, had alcohol addiction issues which he had been addressing, and he was due to start a treatment programme in the near future.

He said the incident with the parked car was due to Smoker becoming annoyed at the car being parked illegally at a location he knew had caused accidents. He said he had dealt with it in the wrong way and should have called gardaí.

Judge Joanne Carroll said the offences were serious matters and Smoker needed to deal with his alcohol addiction issues.

For the incident in October 2025, he was sentenced to 80 hours community service in lieu of three months in prison for criminal damage, and the assault charge was taken into consideration.

For the incident in August 2024, he was sentenced to 40 hours community service in lieu of two months in prison for obstructing a peace officer. He was also admitted to a probation bond for 12 months for threatening and abusive behaviour.

• This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme