Man produced hatchet after being refused entry to club

A MAN who produced a hatchet to bouncers at a Wexford night club an hour after he was refused entry to the premises represented himself before the District Court in Belvedere Road.

Ivor O’Brien (39) from 6 Roche’s Terrace, Roche’s Road, Wexford told Judge Gerard Haughton he worked as a canvasser earning €600 weekly as he pleaded guilty to an offence committed at Charlotte Street on December 22. The judge felt it would be wise of O’Brien to have legal representation but the accused preferred to speak for himself and have the matter concluded promptly.

Evidence was given by Garda Emma Dwan who told how the defendant was highly intoxicated when he was apprehended on the night in question.

He later had no recollection of what happened but CCTV images showed him holding up the hatchet to security staff at the Centenary Stores.

Where he obtained the weapon that night was never discovered – he told the garda he had no idea where it came from - but his own hatchet remained at home. He informed the court that the offence occurred after a Christmas party at which spirits were circulating and confirmed that he did not remember anything about it.

‘Having no recall is no excuse,’ observed Judge Haughton who said he must mark the seriousness of what occurred with a six month jail sentence.

However, O’Brien accepted the alternative of 120 hours community service. The hatchet was formally forfeited to the State.