Courts / Dublin / Report

Tradesman found with Stanley knife has knife charge dismissed

Date
2025-11-13

Stage
Charge Or Pretrial

Primary locality
Tallaght

County
Dublin

Summary

On 9 March 2025, Darren Longworth, a 40‑year‑old tradesman from Tallaght, was found by a Garda in a car park carrying two Stanley blades—one in his work belt and one loose in a pocket. He was arrested and charged with possession of a knife under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990. Longworth explained that he was a multi‑skilled tradesman who had been working that day and was living in his van, using it as both accommodation and a storage space for his tools. He claimed the blades were standard work equipment and that a larger switch‑blade tool was stored inside the van. His solicitor argued that the blades were consistent with his trade gear. Judge Patricia McNamara, after considering that Longworth had been working earlier, was wearing his work belt, and that his living circumstances made it natural for tools to be on him, dismissed the knife possession charge.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Tradesman found with Stanley knife has knife charge dismissed. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

9 March 2025 Incident
2025-11-13 Publication

Why: He said he had been sitting in the van listening to music, and routinely kept his tools on him and in the vehicle because it doubled as his accommodation. CNI source report