Courts / Dublin / Report
Blood-covered man swung knife at gardai on city street
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 22 June 2020, Ross Maher, aged 22, was charged with possessing a large carving knife during a dispute. On 23 May, he was found topless and covered in blood on Ross Street near Christchurch Cathedral, wielding a 12‑inch knife with a seven‑inch blade. Gardaí were called after reports of a drunken, topless man brandishing a knife. Maher repeatedly refused to drop the weapon despite commands from Sergeant Niall Godfrey and the use of pepper spray, until his father intervened and persuaded him to surrender the knife. He was arrested, taken to St James's Hospital, and later pleaded guilty. Maher had no prior convictions, had been drinking and taking pills that day, and had recently fought with his brother. The judge, Karen O'Connor, deferred sentencing under the Probation Act, ordered good behaviour, and scheduled a final hearing for 9 November. The case remains pending.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Blood-covered man swung knife at gardai on city street. Charges or matters: one count of possessing a large carving knife in the course of a dispute. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 23 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 9 Adjournment
- 2020-06-22 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of possessing a large carving knife in the course of a dispute (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She said she would defer his sentence under the Probation Act and she ordered him to be of good behaviour in the meantime.; Maher's case will return to court for finalisation on November 9.
Places mentioned
- Dublin street
- Ross Street
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- St James's Hospital
Topics
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