Man armed himself after threats over his singing

A case where a man armed himself with screwdrivers and a knife to intimidate two others who had threatened him to leave his home within 24 hours for singing, ended with a one-year jail sentence yesterday.

Tony Scott, 39, who lives at an apartment at 158, Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, was apprehended at Lower Glanmire Road in Cork by Garda Stephen Aherne. The guard was on patrol in the area when he saw the accused jumping off a bicycle and discarding it.

When he spoke to Scott the accused immediately volunteered that he had two screwdrivers in his possession for the purpose of intimidating others. Following his arrest Scott told gardaí at Mayfield Garda station that he also had a knife in his possession.

He handed over the knife with a 10-inch blade which he had concealed down his trousers.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin accepted the background to the case was unusual and bizarre. He imposed a one-year suspended sentence.

Defence barrister Vincent McKechnie said Scott had been singing on his way home from the pub when two men approached him and threatened him. Scott claimed the two men, who were never identified to the gardaí, warned him he had 24 hours to get out of the area.

Scott, who had had certain mental health issues from which he no longer suffers, believed the threats were real. His response was to arm himself.

Mr McKechnie submitted at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that the admissions made by the accused were unusual.