Cork man remanded for alleged threat with screwdriver

“Do you want to die, black boy?” were the words allegedly shouted by a young Cork man armed with a screwdriver at another man in the city, and yesterday there was an objection to bail being granted to him.

James Hogan, of 60 Liffey Park, Mayfield, Cork, appeared before Judge Mary Dorgan at Cork District Court.

Garda Ray Costello outlined the allegations against the accused: “On July 12, gardaí received a call that a male had threatened another male with a screwdriver and shouted: ‘Do you want to die, black boy?’ The screwdriver was disposed of in a nearby bin. Gardaí went to the scene and the male was identified by gardaí as James Hogan.

“The screwdriver was retrieved from the bin. CCTV was downloaded which shows James Hogan holding the screwdriver and shouting at the injured party. An injured-party statement was taken and there were two witnesses, with one stating that the screwdriver had been put in the bin, and the other witness saying what occurred.”

Explanations

Frank Buttimer, defence solicitor, said that while the matter before the court could be dealt with at district or circuit court, such matters of this kind were regularly disposed of in the district court, adding that in his experience, 85%-90% of them were disposed of summarily.

“In so far as Mr Hogan is concerned, he made certain admissions but gave certain explanations as well,” the solicitor said.

“He described a lawful reason for having the item in his possession. He has three days a week working and would use equipment of that kind.”

Garda Costello said: “I recall him saying he had work on a construction site.”

Mr Hogan gave evidence in the course of his own bail application, saying he was welcome to live at home at Liffey Park and that he was working as a labourer three days a week.

He said that when he was arrested on Friday afternoon he had the screwdriver for a work-related reason, adding: “I was helping my aunty fix sockets in her house.”

Sergeant John Kelleher asked: “And you had just one screwdriver and no other tool?”

The defendant said that was the case. He said: “I bumped into a friend of mine on Grand Parade.”

CCTV

Judge Mary Dorgan said: “I have listened very carefully. I am taking into account the nature of the evidence. And there is good quality CCTV. I am not satisfied any conditions would be satisfactory.”

James Hogan, who is aged around 20, was remanded in custody until July 29 on the charge of being in possession of a screwdriver, contrary to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.