This article is from page 14 of the 2014-01-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
A YOUNG man who pleaded guilty to public order offences and holding a knife in the presence of gardaí was given a suspended sentence by a District Court Judge who believed him to be ultimately “a good lad”.
Judge Patrick Durcan sentenced Jonathan O’Brien of 10 St Patrick’s Terrace, Kilrush to three months in prison after he pleaded guilty to Section 9 (1) and (7) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990, and placed him on a probation bond for six months for breach of the peace.
“I’m of the view you are a good lad but you need a bit of help,” the judge said as he suspended his prison sen- tence and placed him on a good behaviour bond for two years.
The court had been told that on the evening of October 11, 2013 Garda Sean Mullins of Lissycasey Garda Station was responding to reports of a drunken man on Henry Street, Kilrush when he found Mr O’Brien bare-chested and intoxicated on the footpath.
The garda gave evidence that the 20-year-old was not aggressive at the time, so the gardaí brought him home to his grandparents house in St Patrick’s Terrace.
Outside the house Mr O’Brien became aggressive towards the gardaí telling them;
“I’ll fucking get ye guards. I’ll knock your fucking teeth out.”
Mr O’Brien then went inside and gardaí heard the sound of a cutlery drawer being opened.
The defendant emerged with the blade of a kitchen knife visible from his trousers.
He took the knife out of his trousers and placed it on a hall table after gardaí spoke to him.
Solicitor for the defence Patrick Moylan said his client has mental health issues and acted stupidly on the night.
“He showed more bravado than intent,” he said adding that his client did not bandy the knife around but returned it to the hall table.
Mr O’Brien, who has a partner and a baby due in April, lives with his grandparents. His parents divorced when he was young and “he had nothing to do with his father and has some contact with his mother”.
Mr O’Brien apologised to the gardaí and the court describing his behaviour as “very foolish”.
He had 13 previous convictions.
In his summation Judge Durcan said;
“The first thing that strikes me is the abuse of alcohol and the consequences it can have; and second thing that strikes me is the possession of a knife and the consequences that can have.”
He praised Garda Mullins for his “policeman ship” and commended Mr O’Brien for allowing his sense of “righteousness” to overcome his impulses.