Cork man in breach of safety order invited wife to stab him

A man, never in trouble before, pleaded guilty to putting his wife in fear after he marked a circle around his bare chest and invited her to stab him with a bread knife.

Stephen Malone, 55, of Ard Dara Crescent, Station Road, Blarney, appeared at Cork District Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to breaching a safety order on October 31.

Inspector Eileen Foster told Judge Olann Kelleher, Malone put his wife in fear and threatened to kill her. But solicitor Eddie Burke interjected to say the accused threatened to kill himself.

Inspector Foster said he was going around the house bare-chested at the time and carrying a bread knife. He had marked an area on his chest and told his wife she could stab him if she wished.

Judge Kelleher was told the defendant’s wife is quite fearful of her husband returning home. The judge said: “There are conditions attached so he cannot do that.”

Mr Burke said the accused had been hospitalised previously following an attempt at self-harm. “He needs all the help he can get,” he said.

He also said the defendant’s wife had supplied her husband with some funds to live outside the family home.

“There is an awful lot going on here, not just drink. He says he is well-presented but that inside he is not getting on well. He worked for 36 years but in the last four years [his problems] came to the fore,” Mr Burke said.

Judge Kelleher remanded the accused on bail until February for a probation report. He said if there were further difficulties the accused would end up in custody.