Courts / Dublin / Report

€25 fine for man who swung knife at armed garda

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Ross Maher, aged 22, was fined €25 after he swung a 12‑inch carving knife at Gardaí while topless and covered in blood. The incident occurred on May 23 at Ross Road near Christchurch Cathedral, where Maher had been drinking and taking pills. He repeatedly refused Garda commands to drop the knife, prompting a Garda to draw his firearm. Maher's father intervened, and the officer used pepper spray to compel him to surrender the weapon. Maher was arrested, treated at St James's Hospital, and pleaded guilty to possessing a large carving knife in the course of a dispute. He has no prior convictions, has since entered rehabilitation, and is now drug‑free. The judge, citing the event as a one‑off, sentenced him under the Probation Act, ordering the €25 fine.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: €25 fine for man who swung knife at armed garda. Charges or matters: one count of possessing a large carving knife in the course of a dispute. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• May 23 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2020-11-09 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Hearing Or Decision

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Read the original CNI report