National court archive · 2026-03-20

Offender found with knives and hatchets fails in conviction appeal but sees jail term overturned

At a glance

Crime
possession of knives and hatchets
People
Patrick Kearns, Judge Alec Gabbett, Garda Ian Galvin
Locations
Champion’s Avenue, Dublin 1, Crumlin, Wheatfield Prison
Court
District Court Appeals Court
Outcome
nine months, fully suspended for 24 months

Summary

Patrick Kearns failed to overturn his conviction after two axes and two retractable knives were found in a car stopped in Dublin. Judge Alec Gabbett rejected the defence account, but imposed a fully suspended nine-month sentence, community service and addiction-treatment counselling.

Read the original CNI report

Original reporting: courtsnewsireland.ie