MAN WALKED INTO BANK WITH A LUMP HAMMER

A MAN who walked into a Wexford bank with a lump hammer is now off alcohol and drugs, the District Court was told.

Joseph (or Joeseph) Walsh (39), at one time living at Flat 3, Lancaster House, School Street Wexford but currently residing with relatives in Piercestown, came before Judge John Cheatle on a series of charges, all of them admitted.

It was at 11.30 a.m. on April 15, 2015 that he arrived into Permanent TSB with the hammer, in an intoxicated condition.

He was also found to have a Stanley knife in his pocket when he was brought to the garda barracks under arrest that day.

The court heard that he was again intoxicated on the morning of November 27 back in 2013 when he became extremely aggressive with gardaí arresting him for his own safety in School Street.

On January 10 at Pearse Court in 2014 he was in a similar condition, to the extent that he fell over a wall.

A list of previous convictions included one count of arson as well as a couple of counts of threatening/abusive behaviour.

A probation report confirmed that he had past issues with drink, drugs and anger issues.

However, solicitor Helen Murphy offered the court an assurance that a corner had been turned in Walsh’s life.

Not only was he off alcohol but he had also taken steps to improve his mental health, she told Judge Cheatle.

The defendant was put on probation for ten months.