Gardaí catch convicted killer carrying a knife while drunk

A Scotsman who served time for a manslaughter in Waterford more than 13 years ago was caught with a knife in his pocket while drunk in Cork City last September.

Graeme Turnbull of Cooranig, Dunmanway, Co Cork, yesterday denied the charge of carrying the knife without a lawful purpose. His defence was that he had been doing some work setting up an arts festival a few days earlier for which he was using the knife and had forgotten it was in his pocket.

Judge Leo Malone did not accept that explanation and convicted Turnbull, 49, of the offence. Inspector John Deasy told the judge of the defendant’s previous convictions, including a count of manslaughter. Turnbull said yesterday that he got an eight-year sentence, partly suspended for that crime.