Judge awaits psychiatric report on man who told Cork gardaí he wanted to stab someone

The court heard the defendant had said he was going to stab someone on St. Patrick’s Street in Cork

A garda told the court the accused had entered

A psychiatric report is expected to be available next week on a 48-year-old man who pleaded guilty to carrying three knives into the Bridewell garda station saying that he was going to stab someone on St. Patrick’s Street in Cork.

The accused man had no previous convictions of any kind before this unusual incident occurred. On Monday at Cork District Court, Finbarr O’Connell of 11 Sunview, Fair Hill, Cork, had the case against him adjourned. He has pleaded guilty to the charges against him.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said there was a psychiatric element to the defendant’s behaviour on the day and that a psychiatric report would be helpful and should be available for sentencing on February 17. Judge John King adjourned the case until that date.

Garda Wayne McGrath gave evidence when the matter first came before court when there was an objection to bail: “Gardaí have serious concerns that the accused poses a threat to the personal safety of members of the community. 

"He has stated that he wants to stab and harm people. And he has been found to be in possession of knives. 

“It is alleged that at approximately 4.35am on December 15, 2025, the accused entered the public office of the Bridewell Garda Station in possession of a knife which he was concealing up his right sleeve.

“Multiple directions were given to the accused to place any weapons he had on his person onto the ground. He failed to do so. Urgent assistance was sought from the Armed Support Unit to attend the public office of the Garda station.

"The accused repeatedly stated that he wanted to kill someone and he was intending on stabbing someone on St Patrick's Street.” 

At that original hearing Mr Buttimer said the defendant had no intention of harming anyone and that the only person who might have been harmed was himself. The solicitor described the defendant as a quiet and vulnerable person.