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Man who held knife to friend's throat on Christmas night remanded on bail pending sentence
Summary
In a 2015 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Derek Aylmer, aged 39, pleaded guilty to criminal damage after a six‑hour incident on Christmas night 2013 in which he held a knife to his friend Gerard Sheridan's throat, threatened self‑harm, and set fire to Sheridan's home. Aylmer, who had been living with Sheridan, was remanded on bail pending a sentence scheduled for October. Sheridan, an addiction counsellor, testified that Aylmer suffers from depression but had shown improvement since the incident, engaging with services and seeking help. He also claimed Aylmer had become more aware of his condition and was on a waiting list for an alcohol awareness programme. The judge adjourned the case to assess Aylmer's suitability for community service, noting Sheridan's evidence was "very helpful and very forgiving" and that Aylmer had not been imprisoned. Garda Kevin McHugh corroborated Sheridan's account, describing the confrontation, Aylmer's threats to officers, and the eventual evacuation by firemen.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man who held knife to friend's throat on Christmas night remanded on bail pending sentence. Charges or matters: criminal damage at the house in Walkinstown Road, Dublin. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- Christmas night 2013 Incident
- Christmas Incident
- Christmas night Other
- 2015-06-04 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: criminal damage at the house in Walkinstown Road, Dublin (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Mr Sheridan told Judge Nolan that he has "faith" in the man's recovery and he believed that time Aylmer spent in prison on remand awaiting sentence was "a short, sharp shock" for him. Judge Nolan adjourned the case to October to allow for Aylmer to be assessed for suitability for community service.; Judge Nolan adjourned the case to October to allow for Aylmer to be assessed for suitability for community service.
Places mentioned
- Gerard Sheridan's house
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Walkinstown Road
- Dublin
- Walkinstown Road
Topics
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