Suspended sentence for man who threatened father outside Cobh shop over son's drug debt

A middle-aged man was put in fear by a man who approached him as soon as he stepped out of a shop in the Cobh area and made a demand with menaces for the payment of his son’s drug debt, and today, the accused man was given a two-year suspended sentence.

Detective Garda Peter Moran testified that on September 30 2023, Cian Mannix approached the injured party outside Centra at Rushbrook, Cobh, and demanded the payment of over €1,300 being a drugs debt accrued by the man’s son. 

In making this demand with menaces, the defendant made specific reference to the man’s other children by name, Det Garda Moran said.

The detective said the man was put in such fear by the nature of the demand that it took him two months before he felt able to make a complaint to An Garda Síochána. 

Gardaí called to the home of Cian Mannix in Cobh, and arrested him on the charge of demanding money with menaces.

When questioned later in relation to the matter he replied to every question: “No comment on instructions of my solicitor.” 

The 23-year-old had previous convictions including one for assault, another for assault causing harm, and engaging in threatening behaviour.

Alan O’Dwyer, defence barrister, said the defendant would have been under the influence of others when he carried out this crime. Mr O’Dwyer said the defendant had written a letter of apology.

“At the time of the offence he would have been in a manic state as a result of the abuse of alcohol and drugs,” 

Mr O’Dwyer said.

The defendant has spent a total of five months on remand in custody as a result of the crime. Mr O’Dwyer said that this had a sobering effect on him and that he wanted to turn his life around.

Sentencing had been adjourned from February to give the accused an opportunity to continue with the process of turning his life around. Mr O’Dwyer said that he had used the intervening time positively.

Judge Boyle set a headline sentence of three years, and reduced this to two years because of the mitigating factors. 

Because of the overall circumstances of the crime and of the defendant, including time already spent in prison, the judge said that this two-year sentence could be suspended.