A young Tralee man, who dropped a large knife on the ground after withdrawing money from an ATM, has been sentenced to six months in prison.
22-year-old Leon Gallagher of Rock Park Avenue, Tralee, was jailed at Tralee District Court by Judge David Waters.
His solicitor Pádraig O’Connell said Mr Gallagher is an impressionable young man, who apologises for carrying a knife with him.
Sergeant Chris Manton told the court that at around 10:25am on 29th May last year, Mr Gallagher was seen dropping a large knife on the ground, after making a withdrawal from an ATM at the Credit Union in Tralee on Ashe Street.
He was identified on CCTV as having dropped the large kitchen knife on the ground, and pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of a knife.
He pleaded guilty to a second count of possession of a knife, which happened on 7th August last year.
He was caught by gardaí in possession of a kitchen knife at 10:15 that morning, as they were in the Rock Street area investigating a separate incident.
Mr Gallagher also pleaded guilty to a count of criminal damage, whereby he damaged the kitchen window of his mother’s house after an argument.
Mr Gallagher’s solicitor Pádraig O’Connell said his client is a very young and impressionable man.
He said Mr Gallagher apologises profusely and accepts culpability for possession of the knives.
Mr O’Connell said he never threatened anyone with them, nor did he use any violence with them.
Judge David Waters jailed him for six months on each knife charge, with both running simultaneously.
