Man tackling his drink issue after producing knife on Shandon St

A prison sentence was merited for a man who produced a knife as he shouted at people on Shandon St but the judge said it would be suspended because of his efforts to deal with his drink problem.

Judge Mary Dorgan imposed a suspended four-month prison sentence on Cian Barry. 

“I am glad he has turned his life around — that is why he is not going to prison,” she said.

The background to the case was that the 28-year-old got into a row at home on the day, decided to start drinking for the morning, and ended up coming to the attention of gardaí several hours later when he produced a knife as he shouted at people on Shandon St.

By 5pm on July 7, 2023, gardaí had received reports of a man, armed with a knife, shouting at members of the public on Shandon St, Cork.

Garda Ross Broekhuizen observed Cian Barry discard a knife by throwing it across the street when he was intoxicated.

On CCTV he was observed brandishing a knife and threatening members of the public with it.

Barry, of 23 Churchfield Ave, Cork, pleaded guilty to having a knife in his possession on the occasion, as well as being drunk and a danger and engaging in threatening behaviour.

Defence solicitor Shane Collins-Daly said at an earlier hearing: “Mr Barry is aware this is a very serious offence.

“On the day he had a row with his partner and started drinking at home early in the morning.

“He was just holding the knife,” he said. “Thankfully, there was nothing worse than that.

“He is off drink since this occurred. It is a very serious incident but I would ask you to look at it as an isolated incident.”

The solicitor said the row in the public place was a row with his partner and later with members of her family.