Garda told knife ‘was for cutting spuds’
Garda Seán Murray was giving evidence at Cork District Court yesterday in the case against Liam Heaphy, aged 31, of 69 Kilmore Rd, Knocknaheeny, Cork.
Heaphy was yesterday convicted of possessing the penknife and received a five-month sentence, with four months suspended.
Insp Mary King said Heaphy had numerous previous convictions, including a number of counts for the carrying of knives.
Garda Murray said he took the knife from Heaphy on Aug 5, who caused him no difficulty. The garda said he asked Heaphy why he had the penknife and that Heaphy replied: “I had it for cutting spuds.”
Heaphy told his solicitor, Diarmuid Kelleher, yesterday he had no memory of saying that to the guard. He also said that this was not the reason he had the knife.
The penknife was described as a dual-purpose item consisting of a knife and spoon in the style of a Swiss Army knife.
Heaphy said he was helping clean up his mother’s back garden in advance of a barbecue and that he saw his nephew using the spoon part to scrape at the ground. He said he took it from his nephew for his safety, put it in his pants and forgot about it.
Judge Con O’Leary said that he had no difficulty believing this explanation. However, he said having a knife for chopping food in a kitchen was no reason for bringing the knife with him on a walk.
