‘I am a dangerous man,’ accused tells Cork court

As gardaí objected to bail in the case of a man who allegedly wore a cowboy hat and a long black coat while carrying a long serrated knife in Cork city centre, an even stronger objection was made by the accused man himself: “I am a dangerous man, I don’t want to be on the streets.”

Charged as Niall O’Brien, the 55-year-old politely told Judge Mary Dorgan that Niall was incorrect and that he is Cornelius O’Brien, and he joined the objection to bail being granted to himself.

He said he had a schizoaffective disorder diagnosis since 2012 and that for the past five months, he had been on the wrong depot injection for his condition.

He said: “I need to be in Dundrum [Central Mental Hospital] — somewhere like that. I don’t think I should be in society.

“I think I should be in Dundrum for life. I am seeing things everywhere, constantly.”

Judge Dorgan remanded him in custody until March 19 at Cork District Court and on an application from solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher, Judge Dorgan said the prison authorities should be notified that he needs immediate psychiatric help.

The 55-year-old faces charges of being in possession of a knife and production of a knife at Paul St, Cork.

Garda David Murphy testified that on March 11, the accused was located on Bridge St by the Garda Armed Support Unit and was subsequently arrested in possession of a large serrated bread knife.

The garda said CCTV showed the accused walking from Castle St onto Paul St at 1.18pm and bumping into an unknown female, apparently “intentionally”.

Garda Murphy said: “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 schoolchildren are in close proximity to the incident.

“The accused then walks away and puts the knife into his jacket pocket. He is later seen walking into a shopping centre holding the knife and is subsequently arrested on Bridge St," the garda added.

Judge Dorgan remanded him in custody for a week and directed psychiatric attention for the accused in prison.