A cyclist who shouted at a passing pedestrian "hey you nigger, go home to your own country, you black bastard" was sentenced to a month's imprisonment yesterday.
Michael McNulty (40), Nephin Road, Cabra, Dublin, pleaded guilty to causing a breach of the peace during the incident involving a man from Sierra Leone.
Dublin District Court heard McNulty was cycling down Dorset Street on May 27th last while Mr Nicholas Jacob, who has lived here for three years, was walking in the opposite direction.
Det Gardaí Kevin Keyes and Kevin Stratford were behind McNulty when they heard him shout the offensive remark. They immediately arrested him and later charged him.
Counsel for Mr McNulty said he was deeply apologetic and knew he had made "an unforgiveable comment". However, he claimed there had been an earlier incident whereby Mr Jacob stepped out in front of him.
Judge James Scally said it was a racist and appalling remark, "the lowest type of remark that can be made". Regardless of evidence that he was under stress, this was not an excuse. "It is probably the worst remark anyone can make to another human being".
Rejecting pleas not to jail him as he had no previous convictions, Judge Scally said he was treating it as a serious matter. He took into account the guilty plea and imposed a one-month sentence. He was given leave to appeal in his own bond of €150 with an independent surety of €100.