Drunk man who told gardaí in Cork city 'I'm hunting coppers' jailed

A drunken disturbance on a busy shopping street in Cork saw a 53-year-old man threatening gardaí with the words: 'I’m hunting coppers'.

Adrian Henry who is from the UK has been living in Cork for many years was approached by gardaí at 1.20pm on April 7 on Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork, at a time when there were many adults and children in the area.

Gardaí approached him because he was so intoxicated that he was a danger to himself or others but he reacted aggressively to them, Sgt Aisling Murphy said at Cork District Court.

“When they tried to speak to him, he said, ‘I am hunting coppers’. He also threatened them saying, ‘I will f***ing break you’, and ‘f*** you’, numerous times,” Sgt Murphy said.

Adrian Henry of Cork Simon Community pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening behaviour and being drunk and a danger during the lunchtime incident.

Five days earlier at exactly the same time of the day he was drunk and threatening again and had to be Tasered and taken to the ground so that he could be arrested, Sgt Murphy said.

And in the six-month period between December 2025 and last month he was involved in several shoplifting incidents in Cork city, stealing quantities of alcohol for the most part. 

Those thefts were carried out at premises including Tesco Express on South Main Street; Tesco on Paul Street; Centra at Oliver Plunkett Street on and Patrick St; as well as Aldi in Douglas, and Dunnes in Ballyvolane.

Frank Buttimer solicitor said: “He is deeply apologetic for the verbal outburst to gardaí which he knows was completely inappropriate.” 

Judge Catherine Ryan commented: “The benefit of hindsight.” 

The judge added: “Things have been spiralling for this man recently, looking at the close proximity of all these offences whether it is the alcohol or other demons it is affecting himself and others – out on the street in the middle of the day causing havoc with everybody watching.” 

Judge Ryan imposed consecutive sentences totalling five months on Adrian Henry.