A five month sentence has been imposed on a man who violently resisted arrest by kicking out, attempted to get a meal for free, caused annoyance at a hostel, and then failed to turn up to court.
Michael Mallon (33 ) with an address at 3 Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, and originally from Shrule, pleaded guilty to a number of offences which included public order, resisting arrest, theft, and failing to appear in court.
Inspector Pat McHugh told the court that the defendant entered Zhivago on December 24, 2008, and took a CD valued €20 out of the store without paying for it. He had to be physically restrained by security staff and he later attempted to kick gardaí at the station. On March 19, 2009, at 4.30pm the defendant had been at the Waterfront Hotel in Salthill and left without paying for a meal. The defendant, who had been intoxicated at the time, was arrested. It was then discovered that there were four or five bench warrants in existence for him.
At 5.40pm on February 12, 2009, the defendant was seen kicking the door of the Fairgreen Hostel. He was ordered by gardaí to leave but was then found causing a nuisance by knocking on the windows of taxis whose drivers had difficulty with him. Inspector McHugh said that Mallon has 21 previous convictions, many of which were for public order offences and for theft.
The defendant said that he had been living at the Cork Simon Community at the time of the offence. He said that he hit the drink after losing his job and his girlfriend.
“He has caused much confusion for the court staff and gardaí because of his offending and then failing to appear. It’s one thing to take a CD on Christmas Eve, it’s another to be very, very, abusive and kicking out,” said Judge Mary Fahy who convicted and sentenced Mallon to a total of five months and fined him €200, payable forthwith.
