Louth ‘knife’ accused appears in court and granted bail

A 31-year-old man has appeared in court following an incident in Dundalk on Monday night when armed gardaí used “less-lethal” force to subdue a knife-wielding male. During an “in camera” bail hearing at Drogheda District Court on Tuesday, Judge Stephanie Coggans said that the accused could not be identified. He is charged with having a carving knife which had a blade or was sharply pointed, two counts of using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour or words, and breaching a barring order, at locations in Oakland Park, Cox’s Demesne, on July 20 last. Solicitor Fergal Boyle told the court that he had explained to the defendant that he was not in a position to act for him because of the ongoing strike by criminal Legal Aid lawyers. Mr Boyle added that this is precisely the issue arising (in the dispute) and a case that the Department of Justice needs to be aware of. Evidence of the man’s arrest, charge and caution was presented by schedules. Gardaí objected to bail under O’Callaghan Rules. A garda sergeant gave evidence that it will be alleged that at around 10pm on Monday officers responded to a report of an ongoing domestic disturbance at a house. They were made aware that a male was threatening to harm himself with a knife. This person absconded out the back garden. He was located in a laneway. It will be alleged that he appeared to be holding a knife and ran towards gardaí, shouting, “Get back”. He ran towards Oakland Park and in Dunnes Stores’ car park was “irate and aggressive”. The man was informed that gardaí were armed, and instructed to drop the knife. It will be alleged that he refused to drop the knife, the sergeant continued, and put it towards his own throat. Due to the level of his aggression, members of the Garda Armed Response Unit using “less-lethal” equipment deployed a 40mm launcher against him, and he was subdued. The witness alleged that it was a very serious incident. There was a “domestic aspect” to all of it. Representing himself, the accused said that he had no questions for the sergeant. “I can’t even remember it,” he said of the alleged incident. The defendant added that he was working different jobs. He was not getting medical help. Judge Coggans granted bail in a personal bond of €1,000, nil cash lodged. The man must reside at a stated address, sign on at Dundalk Garda Station every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 9am 9pm, observe an 11pm to 7am curfew, stay out of Cox’s Demesne, have no contact with a named female, remain intoxicant-free, provide gardaí with a mobile phone number within 24 hours, get medical attention and commit no further offending. A disclosure order was made. The accused was remanded on those bail terms to Dundalk District Court on September 2. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme