Drunk Crosshaven man told gardaí: 'I'll punch the head off ya'

Gardaí were trying to help a 61-year-old man who was so drunk that he was a danger to himself or others but he verbally abused them and threatened to “punch the head off ya”.

Stephen O’Shaughnessy of El Paso, Point Road, Crosshaven, pleaded guilty at Cork District Court to charges of being drunk and a danger and also engaging in threatening behaviour.

Defence solicitor Joseph Cuddigan said: “He wants to apologise without reservation to the gardaí who were only trying to help him.” 

The incident occurred on August 18 at Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork. Sergeant John Dineen described what happened: “While on beat patrol, gardaí observed the defendant shouting at members of the public, telling them to f*** off. Gardaí approached the man, who they now know to be Stephen O' Shaughnessy, and observed that he was unsteady on his feet. His eyes were glossy and there was a smell of alcohol from his breath.

“Stephen O'Shaughnessy became aggressive towards gardaí, saying, "Ye are a bunch of c***s, spastics. I’ll punch the head off ya". He was arrested and conveyed to the Bridewell Garda Station." 

Mr Cuddigan said the accused has an alcohol issue. "By way of explanation, rather than excuse, he was not going to meetings (of AA) as much as he should.” 

Judge David Waters noted that the offence consisted of ‘verbals’ only, and he convicted and fined Mr O’Shaughnessy €300 for that, and took the drunkenness into consideration.