2022-12-12 · Dublin
On-bail offender with 221 convictions produced hammer during city centre row
Thomas Stokes, 41, a man with no fixed abode and 221 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to producing a hammer during a dispute on Henry Street, Dublin 1, on 25 May 2021. Gardaí were called after reports of a hammer being brandished; they found Stokes shouting at a woman, attempting to discard the hammer when they arrived, and later trying to push past officers to reach another man. Stokes was highly intoxicated, having drunk two bottles of vodka and taken methadone, and was initially deemed unfit for interview before making full admissions. He was arrested, later placed on bail for separate matters, and is currently in custody on other charges. Judge Dara Hayes imposed a two‑year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended, citing the serious nature of the offence, Stokes' aggressive display, and his extensive criminal record. The suspended portion is subject to strict conditions, including supervision by the Probation Services.