Laois man allegedly produced axe in dispute
Portlaoise Courthouse
WHEN a 19-year-old man was asked by gardaí why he had, allegedly, produced an axe during a dispute, he informed them: “I only done that because he stabbed my mother.” That’s what Det Garda Sgt Martin O’Connell informed Portlaoise District Court when Ashton O’Shea, 58 Hillview Drive, Knockmay, Portlaoise appeared before it charged with the production of an article during a dispute on 4 December at Heather Lane, Esker Hill, Portlaoise.
He was also summonsed with assault on 30 November at Laois Shopping Centre.
Det Sgt O’Connell said the director of public prosecutions has directed that the case proceed by way of summary (district court level) on a guilty plea only and with the consent of the presiding judge.
Asked to outline the allegations in the case before whether to accept jurisdiction, Det Sgt O’Connell said that at 7.10pm on 4 December that, during a dispute, Mr O’Shea, allegedly, produced an axe following a claim by him that his mother had been, allegedly, assaulted. He said part of the incident was captured on CCTV footage.
Regarding the alleged assault in the shopping centre, Judge Fay adjourned that case to 11 May.
She went on to ask to view the CCTV footage of the alleged incident at Esker Hills, which was shown to the court.
Judge Fay said she was not inclined to accept jurisdiction in the case.
However, before making a final decision on the matter, Mr O’Shea’s solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick asked her to take into consideration the age of her client. She said the alleged incident arose from a provocation and there were no injuries. She said that the alleged incident was “borderline” on whether it should be sent to a higher court.
Judge Fay said that she was not accepting jurisdiction and remanded Mr O’Shea on his own bail to the 8 June sitting of the court for the service of a book of evidence and on condition that the defendant makes no contact by any means with Lorcan O’Brien.
