Youth ran at man with knife outside Laois Church during First Holy Communion ceremony
St Peter and Paul's Parish Church, Portlaoise
WHILE gardaí were on mobile patrol around St Peter and Paul’s church in Portlaoise while a First Holy Communion was taking place, they allegedly saw a youth with a knife making a run at a bare-chested man.
Garda evidence at last week’s sitting of the children’s court in Portlaoise heard that on 17 May this year, gardaí were patrolling around the Dublin Road area of the town while a First holy Communion was taking place. They observed a bare-chested man acting aggressively on the church grounds. As they drove into the church car park, they saw a youth allegedly “running at the bare-chested man with a kitchen knife in his hand. They activated the siren on the patrol car and the people ran off.’’ Arising from the incident, a 16-year-old was in court, accompanied by his parents, charged with the production of an article, being a large kitchen knife, at St Peter and Paul’s church, Portlaoise on the date.
Judge Susan Fay remanded the youth on continuing bail to the 5 January 2026 sitting of the court.
