Garda needed help of armed support unit to arrest Cork man carrying hammer, court told

After his arrest, Anthony West said that he did not recognise the state of Ireland and did not recognise the courts

The court heard that Anthony West had post-traumatic stress from his time in the Irish army. File picture: Colin Keegan/ Collins 

Armed support unit gardaí had to assist at the scene of an arrest where a garda looked into a boarded up house and saw a man carrying a hammer at the top of the stairs.

Garda Josephine Falvey told Judge Philip O’Leary that she called to the house at Popham’s Road in Farranree to arrest 48-year-old Anthony West.

Garda Falvey had a warrant for his arrest on a charge dating back to October 2023 where the defendant was accused of engaging in threatening behaviour around the Bridewell garda station.

At the house on Popham’s Road Garda Falvey saw the 48-year-old at the top of the stairs holding a hammer. She had to call the armed support unit for assistance.

“He said after his arrest that he did not recognise the state of Ireland and did not recognise the courts,” Garda Falvey said.

Defence solicitor Aoife Buttimer applied for bail and said the accused would keep a curfew and sign on at his local garda station. However, the accused said he was “riddled with arthritis” and that it would be very difficult for him to get to the station.

He complained that having to sign on would be “an inconvenience to an armed forces veteran”. He agreed with Ms Buttimer that he had post-traumatic stress from his time in the Irish army.

Judge O’Leary remanded him in custody until September 26.