Cork man who brandished axe at gardaí and threatened to take their heads off avoids jail

Defendant waved the axe towards gardaí and stated: ‘Come up here and I’ll take your head off… Come and see what I’ll do to you… You’re nothing but a useless c***, court told

Accused had standoff with gardaí until the arrival of the Armed Support unit, when he surrendered, court heard.

An axe was brandished by a man from the top of the stairs at the family home as he threatened gardaí he would take their heads off if they came upstairs, and on Wednesday he was given a three-month suspended sentence.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said matters had stabilised substantially since this incident occurred in July 2025, and 31-year-old Stephen Murphy, of 143 Farranferris Avenue, Farranree, Cork, was now doing much better with the support of his parents.

Garda David Kiely charged the defendant with resisting Garda Paraic White on the occasion, and threatening to kill or cause serious harm to gardaí, and producing in a manner likely to intimidate another person an article capable of causing serious injury, namely a hatchet.

Sergeant John Dineen said the case against Stephen Murphy could be dealt with at Cork District Court level. Judge Mary Dorgan agreed to accept jurisdiction but added she would only do so on a plea of guilty being entered by the defendant. Mr Buttimer confirmed the guilty plea to all charges.

Sgt Dineen said gardaí were at the defendant’s house on July 16, 2025: “Gardaí entered the residence with permission and were met with Stephen Murphy at the top of the stairs brandishing an axe and threatening gardaí.

“He waved the axe towards gardaí and stated: ‘Come up here and I’ll take your head off… Come and see what I’ll do to you… You’re nothing but a useless c***.’

“A standoff continued until the intervention of the Armed Support Unit, where the accused surrendered to gardaí,” Sgt Dineen said.