James Conway, a 48-year-old man from Cork, has been imprisoned for four months after spitting at Gardaí and verbally abusing shop staff in Cork city centre. The incident took place on 15 December 2020, during a busy Christmas shopping day at Centra store in Oliver Plunkett Street. The accused was reportedly highly intoxicated, unsteady on his feet, and his speech was slurred. Gardaí were alerted by a member of the public about the disturbance and subsequently arrested Conway after he violently resisted detention. He has a history of 22 previous drunkenness convictions and seven previous charges of threatening behaviour.
The court heard that after refusing to pay for food items, Conway verbally abused shop staff and continued to do so when he left the shop. He yelled a sexist expletive towards one of the shop assistants and was apparently aggressive and combative towards Gardaí when they arrived. He spat at one of the officers present and had to be restrained for the safety of the public and the arresting officers. Sergeant Gearóid Davis testified in court about the extent of the man’s intoxicated state and disorderly behaviour.
Conway plead guilty to three charges – engaging in threatening behaviour, being drunk and a danger, and resisting arrest when Garda John Greene arrived at the scene. The presiding judge, Olann Kelleher, imposed a four-month sentence because of his previous convictions, the severity of the current charges and the impact Conway’s behaviour had on the safety of the public and gardaí.
The defence for Conway noted that he had suffered from a serious burn injury to his leg, which had required medical attention. Nonetheless, the accused apologized for his actions and expressed remorse for his conduct in Cork city centre, which led to his arrest and conviction.
This incident highlights the heightened anxiety and stress experienced by frontline workers, including Gardaí and shop staff, during the pandemic, particularly during the busy Christmas shopping season. Customers are reminded to behave courteously and respectfully towards store employees and to adhere to public health measures, including social distancing and mask-wearing. The threat of spreading COVID-19 remains a significant concern, and customers are encouraged to follow the restrictions in place to stay safe and protect those around them.
