Knife-carrying man avoids prison after confrontation outside North Kerry pub

By Anna Zacharias, The Kerryman

A man found with a knife following a dispute about entry to a north Kerry pub avoided a jail sentence at Listowel District Court on Thursday.

Judge David Waters convicted Raoul Venture (33) of Hawthorn Drive, Tralee and fined him €250 for the possession of a knife, noting the defendant was fortunate that few details were given about the night in question and that the charge was not a more serious one.

The court heard the defendant was “stopped from going into a pub” on March 10, 2025 at 10.50pm at Bridge Road, Listowel.

“A knife had been produced,” said Sergeant Stephen O’Brien. “He left. Guards stopped and searched him.”

The sergeant noted nobody gave evidence of a confrontation or threat with the knife.

“What he did with it, I’ve no further allegation,” said the sergeant.

The judge noted there would have been serious consequences had a witness the knife during the argument, said the judge.

“I did advise him this court takes a very hard line when it comes to any knife offence,” said defence solicitor Brendan Ahern.

“Had he been charged with having the knife in his hand outside a licensed premise, it would have been a custodial sentence,” said the judge.