Kildare man sentenced for producing knife to demand cigarette

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Martin McDonnell, 32, of Naas pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to producing a knife and dishonestly appropriating a cigarette at Wellington Quay on 13 June 2024. The court heard that after the worker handed over a cigarette, McDonnell went to hug him and kissed him on the back of the neck.

Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a two-year sentence, with the final 10 months suspended, and backdated it to 26 June, when McDonnell entered custody. She also directed him to undergo 18 months of Probation Service supervision after his release. The judge cited the production of a large knife as an aggravating factor and noted McDonnell’s guilty plea and expressions of remorse in mitigation.