Psychiatric report awaited on man accused of threatening to behead another man at Garda station

Accused was remanded in custody for a week for a psychiatric report on whether or not he is fit to plead in the case

The alleged assault happened at Togher Garda Station. Picture Denis Minihane

A decapitation threat was allegedly made by a man to another man who was present in the public office of Togher Garda Station and on Monday he was remanded in custody for a week for a psychiatric report on whether or not he is fit to plead in the case.

DPP directions are also awaited in the case where Emmanuel Ibrahim was attending the Garda station and allegedly threatened to behead another man who was present in the public office.

Emmanuel Ibrahim appeared on Monday at Cork District Court by video link from prison. Diarmuid Kelleher, solicitor, said: “We still have the fundamental issue of the fitness to plead.” 

Judge Mary Dorgan asked the prison officer in the booth with the accused man if there was a report from the prison psychiatrist on his fitness to plead. The officer replied there was not and he was up for review again in two weeks’ time.

Judge Dorgan said that was not good enough and said: “I looked for a very short report on whether he was or wasn’t fit to plead. I will put it back to April 27 and I absolutely need something back from the psychiatrist by then.” 

Mr Kelleher asked for a copy of CCTV of the incident in the meantime. The 22-year-old was then remanded in custody until April 27.

When the matter first came before Cork District Court, Sergeant Gary Brennan objected to bail being granted to Emmanuel Ibrahim, of Ashbrook Heights, Lehenaghmore, Togher, Cork, on the basis of Garda concerns the accused would be a danger to the public.

“It is alleged that on Tuesday, January 27, Emmanuel Ibrahim attended at Togher Garda Station to sign on. While waiting, he stood up and removed a silver steak knife from his sock and placed it into his waistband.

“It will be alleged that Emmanuel Ibrahim then removed a larger black knife from his waistband and began swinging it in the air. There was a member of the public awaiting service at the hatch.

“Emmanuel had the large kitchen knife in his right hand when he began to sneak up on the unsuspecting member of the public.

“As Emmanuel reached the member of the public, it appears he observed a garda on the other side of the hatch and immediately placed the knife into his waist band and retreated from the male.

“The member of the public told gardaí that Emmanuel Ibrahim had been repeating 'I will behead you', while he was sitting on the bench. The member of the public tried not to make eye contact or engage with the suspect in any way.

“Gardaí tackled the suspect and retrieved the knife from the leg of his trousers. A second knife was located in his underwear during a search in the cell. The incident in its entirety is captured on clear CCTV,” Sgt Brennan said.

The defendant said: “I swung a knife at someone in the Garda station.” Asked if he knew why he did that, he replied, “No”. He said he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.