Homeless man in Kerry was ‘carrying knife for cutting bread’
The KerrymanA man described as ‘a danger’ was jailed for possession of knives, the Tralee District Court heard last Thursday, October 30.
Kristian Pablaks (32) of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to possession of knives, an improvised blade and drugs.
His solicitor argued his client was homeless and had carried a knife for ‘cutting bread’ and an improvised blade to clean coins.
The court heard that on April 5, Mr Pablaks was searched at Tralee Garda Station and found to have amphetamine valued at €20, cannabis valued at €30, a knife and a ‘pointed’ object on his person.
“It’s hard to describe, judge, it’s sharp and pointed,” said Sergeant Stephen O’Brien, handing a photograph of the improvised blade to Judge David Waters.
In an unrelated incident, the court heard gardaí arrived at a disturbance in Abbeydorney on October 20, 2025 and found Mr Pablaks outside a house. When searched, they found a knife on his person.
“This man was on bail at the time for carrying a knife,” said the judge.
“That is correct,” said Sgt O’Brien.
Mr Pablaks had previous convictions for public order, burglary and theft, as well as a March conviction for possession of knives, for which he received an eight-month suspended sentence.
“If I’d know that, I’d have refused jurisdiction,” said the judge.
Judge Waters noted he was not entitled to take previous convictions into account when accepting jurisdiction, however the defendant’s record may have merited a stronger sentence than could be granted by the District Court, he said.
“This man is a danger,” said the judge.
Solicitor Pat Mann said no incident was underway when gardaí arrived in Abbeydorney and they only knew of the knife when they searched his client.
Furthermore, he said, gardaí only searched his client in April after Mr Pablaks voluntarily went to Tralee Garda Station after he heard gardaí were looking for him.
Mr Pablaks had the knife because he was homeless at the time, said Mr Mann.
“He was just using it, for example, for cutting bread and so on,” said the solicitor.
Mr Mann described the improvised blade as “a six-inch nail”.
The judge noted it was referred to as “a shank”.
“He was using it for peeling coins,” said the solicitor.
He noted his client was addressing addiction issues in Cork prison.
“He’s most affable, he’s very pleasant to deal with and he always pleads guilty every time he comes before you,” said the solicitor.
Judge Waters observed the first charges occurred one month after he was given an eight-month suspended sentence for possession of knives.
He sentenced Mr Pablaks to eight months imprisonment for both of the April charges relating tot he knife and the pointed blade, taking into account the drugs charges. The sentences will run concurrently.
Mr Pablaks received 10 months imprisonment for the October charge.
“He’s in custody because he’s continuing to commit knife crimes while on bail,” said Judge Waters.
Mr Pablaks was remanded in custody to Tralee District Court on November 5 for a hearing on the activation of the suspended sentence previously imposed.