Man, 48, ‘who spat at garda’ in Cork is kept in custody

A 48-year-old man, who spat on the glass in front of him in court when he was charged with assaulting a garda by spitting on her, has been remanded in custody for a further week, for DPP directions in his case.

Owen Wilson, of Cornerstone Day Centre, Denmark Rd, Manchester, in the UK, loudly cleared his throat and spat at the table and glass in front of him on his first appearance at Cork District Court on July 7.

Judge David Waters said that he had witnessed Wilson spitting when he was brought into the dock for the hearing.

“I have just seen him come into court, sit down, and immediately spit at the table in front of him.”

Wilson frequently interrupted the judge and the sergeant in his first appearance in court in connection with the assault and threatening-behaviour charges.

He variously yelled that he was homeless and in dire physical pain. He also shouted: “Blah, blah, blah, you are talking rubbish.”

It is alleged that Mr Wilson assaulted the garda by spitting at her at Anglesea St in Cork city on July 6.

There was no objection to bail.

However, the judge decided to remand Mr Wilson in custody as he said he could not rely on Wilson being able to give the undertakings needed for a release on bail.

When he was back in court in mid-July, Mr Wilson told Judge Waters that he viewed himself as being the victim of the “largest case of racial harassment in history”.

Speaking from the dock at Cork District Court, he said that he had “spat in the officer’s face after she roughed me up”. He insisted that he had not done anything worth the punishment he had received.

He said that he had not, hit anyone and should get “a slap on the wrist”.

Oh his third appearance before Cork District Court, Sgt John Dineen indicated that DPP directions were awaited.

Wilson appeared in court by video link. He was remanded in custody to appear before the court again on August 17.