Man jailed for public offence at Molly Malone statue
The incident took place at the Molly Malone statue in Dublin City.
A 27-year-old man will spend six months in prison for triggering the suspended sentence he received at a Waterford court.
Jamie Barnes, of Stanaway Avenue, Crumlin, Dublin, appeared at Waterford Circuit Court before Judge Eugene O'Kelly.
Barnes committed a Section 6 Public Order offence in Dublin, by exhibiting threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour in a public place.
Barnes had previously been given a two-year suspended sentence by Judge O'Kelly in 2023, for committing a Section 3 assault against a person in Waterford City. On March 21, 2021, he assaulted a person on John's Lane, Waterford. The victim sustained injuries to the head and had to undergo a CT scan.
At his sentencing in 2023, Barnes apologised to the victim and paid a sum in compensation.
However, his offence in Dublin triggered the suspended sentence. On September 11, 2024, on St Andrew's Street, Barnes shouted at a tourist taking a photo of the famous Molly Malone statue. Barnes shouted at the tourist, asking them to fight. Barnes was quickly arrested and conveyed to Pearse Street Garda Station.
Defence counsel Tara Geoghegan BL requested an updated probation report for her client, but Judge O'Kelly emphatically declined. Judge O'Kelly said: "I was told on that occasion of very serious injury caused to the victim, that your client compensated him in court and he apologised."
He noted that he had warned Barnes in 2023 that he would invoke the sentence if he appeared before him again.
Judge O'Kelly continued: "This was a nasty incident, verbally attacking a tourist and trying to start a fight with them. This court has been very lenient on him."
Judge O'Kelly activated six months of the original sentence. Barnes will be subject to 12 months supervision post release.
