Intoxicated son allegedly started banging walls told mother to leave home

A man aged 30 got so intoxicated in his mother’s home that he started banging walls in the living room and ordering her to get out of her own house — and in court yesterday he was remanded in custody.

He also grabbed her handbag and stole her purse, Garda David O’Driscoll testified at an in-camera hearing of Cork District Court, where the parties cannot be identified because of the charge under the Domestic Violence Act. There was an objection to bail being granted to the accused because of Garda concerns that he would interfere with his mother.

“It is alleged she was sitting in the living room. He had been asleep and he came down, intoxicated, under the influence of drugs. He began hitting the walls in the room and turned over the coffee table. He was shouting at his mother to f*** off and get out,” Garda O’Driscoll testified.

“As she was leaving he pulled her handbag and stole a black purse from her handbag with about €20. She reported she was in fear for her safety. She went to stay with a family member last night.

“Gardaí went to the house and found the accused unable to walk unaided due to intoxication. She said she was in fear of the accused. She left her home because she was in fear of him returning,” Garda O’Driscoll said.

Even though the complaint was only made by the defendant’s mother on Thursday night, she was at Anglesea St Garda Station trying to withdraw her complaint yesterday.

Sergeant Gearóid Davis said he understood that she was trying to do her best for her son but that it could not be withdrawn immediately without certain steps being taken within An Garda Síochána at a superintendent level.

Judge Mary Dorgan said the alleged breach of a safety order was not the only matter before the court and that the young man also faced theft and public order charges.

The defendant’s mother testified: “Jail is not the place for him. He is an amazing lad once he gets .” Solicitor Eddie Burke said the defendant wanted to get into rehabilitation. Judge Dorgan said he was in no condition to be given bail on the day.

She remanded him in custody until June 13 and said the question of bail could be addressed then, depending on his progress in getting into a residential facility. She expressed concern that he was not taking responsibility.