Report awaited on man accused of threatening to behead another man at Cork Garda station

A man who allegedly made a decapitation threat to a man who was present in the public office of the Togher Garda Station has been remanded in custody for a week for a psychiatric report.

DPP directions are awaited in the case where Emmanuel Ibrahim, aged 22, was attending the garda station and allegedly threatened to behead another man who was present there.

Mr Ibrahim appeared at Cork District Court by video link from prison.

Solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said: “We still have the fundamental issue of the fitness to plead.”

Judge Mary Dorgan asked the prison officer if there was a report from the prison psychiatrist. The officer replied that there was not.

Judge Dorgan said that was not good enough: “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 footage 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 Mr Ibrahim of Ashbrook Heights, Lehenaghmore, Togher, on the basis of garda concerns that 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,” said Sgt Brennan.

“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.”

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

The defendant said he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.