Man pleads not guilty to producing Stanley knife from his rectum in Laois garda station
Portlaoise District Court
A MAN pleaded not guilty to producing a Stanley knife from his rectum and to cutting a mattress while being detained in a cell in Abbeyleix Garda Station.
The allegation was made at Portlaoise District court last week when Patrick Kerry from Cashel Holiday Hostel, John Street, Tipperary, was before the court charged with possessing a knife at the garda station and to the criminal damage of a mattress in the cell on 11 August.
Mr Kerry pleaded guilty to the possession of a cutthroat razor blade on 31 January at Esker Hill Shop, Esker Hills, Portlaoise, and to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour Best Choice Pizza, Main Street, Portlaoise on 1 August last year.
The court heard that while the defendant was being held in the cell in the garda station he allegedly “produced a Stanley box knife from his rectum,” and “allegedly cut the mattress and tried to conceal the knife.” Defending solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said that his 26-year-old client was pleading guilty to the two charges on 1 August last year and on 31 January but not guilty to the alleged offences in the garda station.
He said there were very positive reports from the probation service and from the Community Alcohol and Drug Service (CADS). He said that a previous court had asked that a community service assessment be carried out on Mr Kerry.
In relation to the offence carried out on 31 January Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the accused entered the shop and was acting in an erratic manner and produced a cutthroat razor blade.
He said the incident on 1 January saw Mr Kerry enter the pizza shop threatened staff and demand money, but the owner knew him, and he was later arrested.
Sgt Kirby said that Mr Kerry had 59 previous convictions.
Noting his previous criminal record Judge Susan Fay convicted Mr Kerry of producing a cutthroat razor blade and sentenced him to five months suspended for two years and on the offence in the pizza shop sentenced him to two months in prison and suspended it for two years consecutive to the first five months.
She adjourned the not guilty plea to a hearing on 9 December.
