Clonakilty man verbally abuses gardai after drinking heavily

A 67-YEAR-old Clonakilty man who was involved in two public order incidents on successive days last July told one garda to ‘fuck off’ when being arrested for one of the incidents.

Patrick Sutton of 67 Tawnies Crescent, Clonakilty pleaded guilty at Clonakilty District Court to a number of public order charges including being drunk in a public place and using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

Sgt Paul Kelly told the court that on July 8th last at 6pm Patrick O’Driscoll was standing outside O’Donovan’s Hotel on Pearse Street in Clonakilty when he was approached by the defendant.

‘A verbal altercation took place and Mr Sutton verbally abused him for seven minutes. It was captured on CTTV and he could be seen clenching his fist in an aggressive manner while speaking to the Mr O’Driscoll,’ said Sgt Kelly.

Gda Brian Morris, who was investigating the incident, interviewed Mr Sutton at a later date but he declined to make a statement. The court was told a second incident took place the following day on the same street at 12.25pm.

‘Gardaí were on mobile patrol when they saw Patrick Sutton who shouted, “I’ll get ye, ye shower of bastards” at them. Gda Jason Cotter spoke to him but he started waving his fists and told him to ‘fuck off.’ Mr Sutton, who was drunk at the time, was arrested and taken to Clonakilty Garda Station and, when cautioned, he said the gardaí were “corrupt bastards.”’

The court heard the defendant has one previous conviction from 2018 where he received a conditional discharge of two years for an assault charge.

His solicitor Conrad Murphy said his client lives on his own, has no family and lives on a State pension. ‘He acknowledges he has an issue with alcohol and he doesn’t recall the incidents as he had drank extremely heavy over those days,’ said Mr Murphy.

‘His issues need to be addressed and I’m asking you to adjourn penalty and get the probation services involved.’

Judge James McNulty said the defendant’s re-offending is escalating and that it may be due to alcohol abuse or other underlying issues.

‘It wouldn’t create a good impression on successful days in full view of visitors to Clonakilty,’ said Judge McNulty who convicted him on the charges and deferred penalty until November 19th for a probation report to be produced.