No getting off the hook for fishy tale

A fishy excuse for having a knife in suspicious circumstances failed to get a man off the hook yesterday and he was ordered to do 200 hours of community service.

Garda Kevin Coholan was the observer in the Garda patrol car near the bus station at Parnell Place in Cork, at 10.35pm on May 13 when he saw John Hogan, of 7 Kinvara Close, Cork, placing a knife up his left sleeve.

Garda Coholan told Hogan that he believed he had a knife up his sleeve. The guard took possession of the knife.

Hogan, 34, claimed that he had been fishing in Glanmire.

Cross-examining the accused, Inspector Gary McPolin said the period of time he was allegedly fishing was changing and that there was uncertainty about who he had allegedly given his fishing rods and fishing tackle to before the garda stopped him.

Insp McPolin told Hogan a number of times at Cork District Court: “I don’t believe you.”

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said to Garda Coholan: “You were highly suspicious of this fishy tale.” Garda Coholan said he was.

Mr Buttimer submitted to Judge Olann Kelleher that the accused had given a reasonable excuse for why he had the knife. However, Judge Kelleher said: “The bottom line is I don’t believe this man.”

Mr Buttimer said the accused had virtually zero by way of previous convictions. For that reason, the judge said he could do 200 hours off community service instead of four months in prison.