Cork man who pointed knife at woman on city street believed she was a vampire with her fangs out

Court told defendant had a schizoaffective disorder and had stopped taking his medication at the time of the offence

The accused was observed on CCTV holding a knife on Rory Gallagher Place, court heard. Picture: Larry Cummins

A knife-wielding man who held the weapon over a woman in Cork city centre was suffering hallucinations and believed she was a demon with vampire fangs.

Judge Catherine Ryan accepted the accused man, 55-year-old Cornelius O’Brien, had psychiatric problems but she said: “He poses a serious risk to others in the community. I can only imagine it was terrifying to be confronted by a man brandishing such a knife in the circumstances.

“He has to understand the risk he poses to society when he is not taking his medication. Members of the public cannot be subjected to that kind of behaviour.” 

Judge Ryan imposed a sentence of six months on Cornelius O’Brien, who was living in an apartment on Cove Street in Cork City. The judge directed him to engage with psychiatric services on his release from prison.

Joseph Cuddigan, solicitor, said the defendant was a polite and gentle man when he was taking his monthly depot injection. The defendant said he stopped taking the medication around the time of this behaviour because he said he had been given the incorrect injection before that.

Mr Cuddigan explained on the defendant’s behalf: “He believed he was surrounded by Christian demons and the woman’s vampire fangs were out. He also believed he was being followed by a ‘paedo’ ring.” 

On the day, the 55-year-old was wearing a cowboy hat and a long black coat and he was carrying a long serrated knife in Cork city centre.

The defendant said he had a schizoaffective disorder diagnosis since 2012 and 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.

Sergeant John Dineen said the DPP directed the case could be heard at Cork District Court. The defendant immediately pleaded guilty to charges of being in possession of a knife and production of a knife on Paul Street, Cork.

Garda David Murphy testified: “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.”