Judge refuses jurisdiction under hate legislation

A judge has refused jurisdiction in a case involving a man accused of abusing hospital workers.

Patrick Lee (37) with an address at Park View, Cavan Town, was arrested on his home estate after gardaí got a call about an intoxicated male allegedly “threatening” neighbours. When they arrived, they were met by Lee who became “abusive” towards them, and was subsequently arrested, despite initially resisting, and forcing gardaí to deploy pepper spray.

Mr Lee is accused of public intoxication and engaging in threatening behaviour, as well as assaulting Garda Conor Tonry at Park View, Cavan, arising out of the alleged incident on August 17, 2025.

Later the defendant was found “unresponsive” at Cavan Garda Station and brought to Cavan General Hospital where he “became alert”, becoming abusive towards a member of staff there, calling them a “dirty black b**tard”, a “dirty Sri Lankan” and a “dirty Paki”. That is an alleged offence under the recently enacted Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024.

He also told another member of staff that he would place a GPS on their car and follow them to their home, causing them to fear that they or their family may be assaulted.

To a third person, Mr Lee allegedly threatened to “cut the brakes” on their car.

Though the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had initially directed for the matter to be dealt with in the district court, Judge Raymond Finnegan refused jurisdiction, remanding Mr Lee on bail to appear again later this year.