Hunter said he would slit man’s throat

A day’s rabbit-hunting erupted later on with a young man producing a kitchen knife and threatening to slit another man’s throat in a heated dispute.

Aaron Babbington had been hunting rabbits all day on May 22 last year and was later in a row with a man at a relative’s house at Fairfield Avenue, Fairhill, Cork.

He pleaded guilty yesterday to being in possession of the knife, being threatening, and being drunk and a source of danger.

Inspector Ronan Kennelly said that shortly before 1am on May 23, 2013, gardaí attended at the scene.

“He was making very serious threats, saying to another man, ‘I will slit your throat’. He was extremely intoxicated. Gardaí saw that he was in possession of a large kitchen knife,” Inspector Kennelly said.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said Babbington, aged 21, of 25 Churchfield Avenue, Churchfield, Cork, had a number of educational challenges and had difficulties with alcohol and cannabis but had been dealing with the probation service.

The judge imposed a six-month suspended sentence on him for having the knife. Babbington was fined €250 for being drunk and a source of danger and the threatening charge was put back until January 26 for a report on his suitability for a community service order.