Topless man with chainsaw was ‘out of his mind’ says Judge

A 47-year-old man who frightened a car of people while topless and holding a chainsaw and waved an axe in gardaí’s faces has been told to seek addiction counselling.

Kevin Chadwick of Kilrusheighter, Templeboy previously pleaded guilty to interupting the free passage of a vehicle, operating a chainsaw intimidating three people and the production of an axe waving it in the faces of Garda Francis Finnegan and Garda David Hannon.

The previous court sitting heard on June 30 th, 2018 at 1.40am gardai received a call reporting a topless man brandishing a chainsaw. A car of people reversed away and Chadwick chased them.

When gardaí arrived at the scene they were met with Chadwick brandishing an axe, he proceeded to wave it in the gardaí’s faces.

Chadwick barricaded himself in a house and brandished various weapons through the window. After five hours of negotiations by gardai, armed gardai entered the house at 6.50am and arrested the man.

The court heard he had one previous conviction for intoxication.

Defending solicitor Gerard McGovern told the court his client had a complete mental breakdown at the time of the incident. He added that Chadwick had a good relationship with his neighbours and a character reference written by a former member of An Garda Síochána was handed into the court.

Chadwick told the court he was in denial about his alcohol problems. Judge Kilrane commented that Chadwick was ‘utterly out of his mind’ on the night and described the incident as ‘extremely serious and violent’.

Judge Kilrane directed a 12 month probation period during which time Chadwick should seek addiction counselling and abide by the Probation Service directions.