No jail for man who was 'roaring and shouting' at woman lying in alleyway of Cork town

A man who admitted threatening and abusive behaviour towards a woman in a busy Cork town has been handed a suspended prison sentence in the district court.

Garda court presenter Sergeant Tom Mulcahy said the incident happened in Skibbereen just after 9am on Tuesday morning, March 31, 2026. 

The court was told that a garda sergeant was patrolling along Townsend Street in the centre of the town when he passed Coppinger’s Lane, a narrow alleyway leading off the street.

When he looked down the alleyway the sergeant saw a woman lying on the ground and a man “standing over her” who was “roaring and shouting abuse” at the woman. 

The man, identified as 30-year-old Ramunas Skipinas with an address at Townshend Street, Skibbereen, Co Cork, had to be pulled away from the woman.

The court heard that Skipinas was told to desist and sit down on some nearby steps and he did as he was instructed. 

The court heard that Skipinas was not intoxicated at the time of the incident and was arrested for threatening and abusive behaviour and brought to Skibbereen Garda Station. The woman later made a “negative statement” to gardaí and said she did not wish to pursue the matter.

The court was told that Skipinas had 22 previous convictions including one for threatening and abusive behaviour and five for public intoxication.

Defence solicitor Colette McCarthy said her client was in a long-term relationship with the woman and “wanted out of it”. 

She said Skipinas was a carer for the woman who had back problems and he had wanted the keys to her apartment so he could remove his belongings which was the reason he was shouting at her on the morning in question.

Judge Joanne Carroll said: “In any event he was shouting and roaring at her at 10 past nine in the morning.” The judge said if the woman had pursued the matter if could have been a much more serious situation. 

Skipinas was convicted and sentenced to three months in prison with the sentence suspended for two years.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.