Man (57) charged with possession of a hammer
AT Sligo District Court on Thursday, Brendan Casey, with an address at Caltragh Crescent, Sligo was before the court charged with possession of a hammer in a rucksack.
The court heard from defending solicitor Mr Gerard McGovern that his client was pleading guilty The judge said that he heard the facts on the last occasion. The defendant had 38 previous convictions relating to public order.
Mr McGovern said Casey was a craftsman and regularly helps people. He said that he is always carrying a rucksack with tools as he is always doing jobs. He said that on the date in question, November 26 th 2017 he was on his way back after finishing a job and the reason he had a hammer was for when working on chimneys.He added that at some stage he got into words with somebody.
Mr McGovern added that Casey comes from a very hardworking background and he does more work on community service that 20 people put together. He said that after finishing work he goes to the pub for a drink. Mr McGovern said he is not a violent man but that it was drink that leads him into the courthouse.
Judge Kevin Kilrane said it was not a problem having tools as a mobile handyman if they were not resorted to other purposes.
He asked why Casey had taken a hammer from his bag and Mr McGovern replied that he had been badly injury in an assault in Sligo some time ago.
Sergeant Derek Butler indicated that his main problem is drink and said that when he is sober he is the best in the world and said he must understand that he cannot go around with tools which are then used at 1:40am.
The judge added that they were serious weapons that could seriously harm or injure someone. He applied the Probation Act.