'I am a dangerous man,' says man arrested with large serrated knife in Cork City

The accused man himself objected to his own bail saying: 'I think I should be in Dundrum for life. I am seeing things everywhere constantly.'

The defendant told the court: 'I need to be in Dundrum (Central Mental Hospital) — somewhere like that. I don’t think I should be in society. I think I should be in Dundrum for life.' Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

A cowboy hat and a long black coat were worn by a man carrying a long serrated knife in Cork City centre and as gardaí objected to bail on Thursday an even stronger objection was made by the accused man himself who said: “I am a dangerous man, I don’t want to be on the streets.” 

Charged as Niall O’Brien, the 55-year-old politely told Judge Mary Dorgan that Niall was incorrect and that he is Cornelius O’Brien, and he joined the objection to bail being granted to himself.

He said he had a schizoaffective disorder diagnosis since 2012 and that for the past five months he had been on the wrong depot injection for his condition. He said the recent medication was for DTs and had no effect on his symptoms.

“I need to be in Dundrum (Central Mental Hospital) — somewhere like that. I don’t think I should be in society. 

I think I should be in Dundrum for life. I am seeing things everywhere constantly.

“I don’t want bail. I don’t want to be on the streets,” he said.

Judge Dorgan remanded him in custody until March 19 at Cork District Court and on an application from solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher, Judge Dorgan said the prison authorities should be notified that ne needs immediate psychiatric help.

The 55-year-old faces charges of being in possession of a knife and production of a knife at Paul Street, Cork.

Garda David Murphy testified: “It is alleged that at lunchtime on Wednesday, March 11, gardaí responded to reports of a male wearing a black cowboy hat, a long black coat and boots, walking down Paul Street, Cork, carrying a knife in his hand. 

"Multiple units responded to the incident and the accused was located on Bridge Street by the Armed Support Unit and subsequently arrested at Bridge Street, Cork City, for an offence contrary to the Firearms & Offensive Weapons Act. The accused was arrested in possession of a large serrated bread knife which was in his hand.

“CCTV shows the accused walking from Castle Street onto Paul Street at 1.18pm. The accused is then visible bumping into an unknown female member of the public walking towards him on the pavement. He appears to walk into this female intentionally. 

"CCTV shows the unknown female member of the public confront the accused and he then produces a large knife and holds it above his head and points it towards her. A group of five school children are in close proximity to the incident. The accused then walks away and puts the knife into his jacket pocket. 

“At Rory Gallagher Place he is visible on CCTV again holding the knife in his right hand. A large group of people were present in Rory Gallagher Place at the time. The accused walks into the shopping centre holding the knife and as he walks through the main entrance door he places the knife back into his jacket. 

"The accused is then told to leave by security when a member of the public alerted them to the accused. It is alleged the accused then leaves the shopping centre with the knife in his jacket and is subsequently arrested on Bridge Street.” 

On the application of Sergeant Gearóid Davis, Judge Dorgan remanded him in custody for a week and directed psychiatric attention for the accused in prison.