Man with knife in Cork city centre jailed for threatening behaviour

Armed gardaí rushed to Oliver Plunkett Street at around 10 o’clock at night in response to a report of a man wielding a knife who was abusive to members of the public.

Judge Mary Dorgan commented today at Cork District Court that it was a very serious matter and she imposed a total sentence of six months on the accused man in respect of charges that included possession of the weapon and engaging in threatening behaviour.

Sergeant John Kelleher said members of An Garda Síochána including members of the armed response unit arrived at the scene and that Trevor Connolly was quickly located.

“He was searched. Found in the waistband of his tracksuit pant was a black-handled knife. 

“Asked to account for it he said, ‘It is for my own protection’. He was extremely abusive to members of the public and the gardaí."

The address on the charge sheets for the accused gave his address at Cork Simon Community. 

But at Cork District Court previously the accused said he had an address at Mayfield, Cork.

Sgt Kelleher said the defendant had 38 previous convictions including one under the Offensive Weapons Act, 19 for being intoxicated to such an extent that he was a danger to himself or others and nine for engaging in threatening behaviour.

Defence solicitor Eddie Burke, said the 36-year-old had a very good work ethic and had successfully held down a number of jobs over the years.

However, in recent times his drink problem escalated and he began drinking vodka instead of beer and his offending got worse.

Judge Mary Dorgan said, “In relation to the knife I think this is very serious – a man in possession of a knife on Oliver Plunkett Street."

Trevor Connolly pleaded guilty to three charges, possession of a knife, being threatening and abusive and being drunk and a source of danger to himself or others at 10pm on November 26, 2024.