Latest news with #DistrictCourt
The Journal
4 hours ago
- The Journal
Man sentenced to three months in jail for brandishing knife at asylum seeker in Dublin migrant camp
A DOG WALKER was sentenced to three months in jail after being convicted of brandishing a knife at an asylum seeker in a Dublin migrant camp. Raymond Lawless, 63, of St Andrew's Court, was found guilty of the production of a knife at Sandwith Street, both in Dublin 2, on 8 May, 2023. He denied the offensive weapon charge but was found guilty by Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court, handed a sentence, and fined €500. In evidence, the complainant said he was an asylum seeker who had been living in a tent in the encampment. He alleged that 'this man came around chasing everybody in the place with a knife'. He described it as a kitchen knife and recalled Lawless had his small Yorkshire terrier with him. However, he said the accused threatened to return later with two bigger dogs to 'chase us back to wherever we came from'. The witness said he called gardai to report the man coming into the camp to attack 'me and two or three guys'. He stated he tried to rescue his friends from Lawless. Cross-examined, he agreed he was intimidated not by the little dog with Lawless but because he said he would come back with two big dogs. Challenged over his knife claim, the defence barrister told the witness that Lawless had a trowel for cleaning up after his dog. 'It was a knife', he replied. Advertisement Garda Alan Cawley obtained CCTV footage from the area and took statements. The video evidence was played during the hearing. Rejecting the accusation when he took the stand, Lawless insisted he just went out to walk his dog and had a small garden trowel to clean up after his pet. He said he vaguely remembered the day and denied having anything on him to frighten anyone. Reacting to the complainant's evidence, Lawless said it was a 'complete lie' and he was adamant that he never went around carrying a knife. Questioned by the prosecutor, he confirmed he knew there was a refugee camp there because he lived across the road. He said he no longer had the trowel because the dog had died and he got rid of all his pet's things. When told the item looked like a knife, he replied: 'It may do, but I was not carrying a knife.' He added that he never spoke to anyone in the camp. Judge Hughes did not accept his account and said it was 'abundantly clear' in the CCTV footage that he was carrying a silver, chrome, long knife distinct from a garden trowel. He noted that the accused had one previous conviction for assault causing harm, which led to a Circuit Court imposing an 18-month suspended sentence in 2012. The court heard he had been receiving cancer treatment. Judge Hughes imposed the fine and a nine-month sentence but suspended the final six months on condition he did not reoffend in two years, had no contact with the complainant, stayed away from Sandwith Street, and completed an anger-management course. Lawless was released after lodging appeal bail.
Sunday World
4 hours ago
- Sunday World
Ex-Ukrainian soldier sparked security alert at US ambassador's Dublin residence
"The accused crossed a moat and climbed an eight-foot wall into the property' Former Ukrainian war vet Oleksandr Kucherenko triggered a security alert at the official residence of the US ambassador to Ireland in Phoenix Park, Dublin. Pic credit: Tom Tuite Gardai await confirmation that a former Ukrainian soldier who sparked a security alert at the US ambassador to Ireland's official residence in Dublin has left the country, a court has heard. Oleksandr Kucherenko, 33, claimed to be sight-seeing on June 13 after "wandering" into the grounds and scaling the walled moat and perimeter of the Deerfields residence in Phoenix Park. He pleaded guilty the following day at Dublin District Court to trespassing in a manner likely to place another person in fear. Judge Michele Finan had ordered him to donate to the Red Cross and adjourned his case, with bail and a daily signing on condition. Kucherenko, of no fixed address, had claimed he could give €50 to the humanitarian charity. Otherwise, Judge Finan said she would convict and fine him €200 if he had left the State. She noted yesterday/today that Gardai still had to confirm whether he had gone and was continuing their enquiries. Former Ukrainian war vet Oleksandr Kucherenko triggered a security alert at the official residence of the US ambassador to Ireland in Phoenix Park, Dublin. Pic credit: Tom Tuite News in 90 Seconds - June 20th He did not attend the resumption of his court case, and defence solicitor Niall O'Connor said he had not received further instructions. He consented to a two-week adjournment of Kucherenko's case, which will resume on July 4. At his earlier hearing, Garda Martin Curley said the accused's reply to the charge was, "My behaviour would not have scared anyone; I was not drunk". He had arrived in the country hours before his arrest but intends to leave as soon as possible. A victim impact statement was not required. The court heard the Ukrainian national tripped the perimeter alarm at 3.30pm. Garda Curley said, "The accused crossed a moat and climbed an eight-foot wall into the property." Security personnel detained the former soldier minutes later. Defence barrister Kevin McCrave, instructed by Mr O'Connor, said Mr Kucherenko had been in the Ukrainian army and came to Ireland to visit friends in Claremorris, Co Mayo. He did not address the court but briefed his barrister that he had "just landed, was sight-seeing and taking photographs around the city". Counsel said the man "ended up in Phoenix Park and wandered into the grounds inadvertently", and he was apologetic. The court heard his father also served in the military and was killed in action in the war against Russia, which led to the accused being allowed to leave the army. He hoped to join other family members in Spain. The judge had ordered the accused, who was to stay in hostel accommodation, to sign on daily at a garda station, stay away from the ambassador's residence and have no direct or indirect contact with any of the occupants or by social media. Legal aid was granted.
Sunday World
4 hours ago
- Sunday World
Gardaí arrest two men ‘hiding in wardrobe' following reports of suspicious activity
Two men have been arrested by gardaí in Greystones following reports of suspicious activity in the area on Thursday, June 19. Gardaí immediately responded, discovering two males "hiding in a wardrobe' in a residential property in the Killincarrig area of the town. Gardaí from the Wicklow North Community Engagement area said they arrested the two males (40s) under Operation Thor, having responded to reports of an incident at the residence at approximately 2.30pm. Bray Garda Station. News in 90 Seconds - June 20th The men were found in possession of a bag containing property that has since been identified as belonging to the homeowners, and has been returned. When gardaí arrived to the scene, they searched the residence and discovered both men attempting to evade gardaí. The two men were conveyed to Bray Garda Station and are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 and will appear before a special sitting of Bray District Court today, Friday June 20.
Sunday World
4 hours ago
- Sunday World
Dog walker jailed for brandishing knife at asylum seeker in Dublin migrant camp
He alleged: "This man came around chasing everybody in the place with a knife". A dog walker was sentenced to three months in jail after being convicted of brandishing a knife at an asylum seeker in a Dublin migrant camp. Raymond Lawless, 63, of St Andrew's Court, was found guilty of the production of a knife at Sandwith Street, both in Dublin 2, on May 8, 2023. He denied the offensive weapon charge but was found guilty by Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court, handed a sentence, and fined €500. In evidence, the complainant said he was an asylum seeker who had been living in a tent in the encampment. He alleged: "This man came around chasing everybody in the place with a knife". Raymond Lawless. Photo: News in 90 Seconds - June 20th He described it as a kitchen knife and recalled Lawless had his small Yorkshire terrier with him. However, he said the accused threatened to return later with two bigger dogs to "chase us back to wherever we came from". The witness said he called gardai to report the man coming into the camp to attack "me and two or three guys". He stated he tried to rescue his friends from Lawless. Cross-examined, he agreed he was intimidated not by the little dog with Lawless but because he said he would come back with two big dogs. Challenged over his knife claim, the defence barrister told the witness that Lawless had a trowel for cleaning up after his dog. "It was a knife", he replied. Garda Alan Cawley obtained CCTV footage from the area and took statements. The video evidence was played during the hearing. Rejecting the accusation when he took the stand, Lawless insisted he just went out to walk his dog and had a small garden trowel to clean up after his pet. He said he vaguely remembered the day and denied having anything on him to frighten anyone. Reacting to the complainant's evidence, Lawless said, "That's a complete lie; I deny that," adamant that he never went around carrying a knife. Questioned by the prosecutor, he confirmed he knew there was a refugee camp there because he lived across the road. He said he no longer had the trowel because the dog had died and got rid of all his pet's things. When told the item looked like a knife, he replied, "It may do, but I was not carrying a knife." He added that he never spoke to anyone in the camp. Judge Hughes did not accept his account and said it was "abundantly clear" in the CCTV footage that he was carrying a silver, chrome, and long knife distinct from a garden trowel. He noted that the accused had one previous conviction for assault causing harm, which led to a Circuit Court imposing an 18-month suspended sentence in 2012. The court heard he had been receiving cancer treatment. Judge Hughes imposed the fine and a nine-month sentence but suspended the final six months on condition he did not reoffend in two years, had no contact with the complainant, stayed away from Sandwith Street, and completed an anger-management course. Lawless was released after lodging appeal bail.
Irish Examiner
7 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Dog walker who 'chased everybody in the place with a knife' at migrant camp is jailed
A dog walker was sentenced to three months in jail after being convicted of brandishing a knife at an asylum seeker in a Dublin migrant camp. Raymond Lawless, aged 63, of St Andrew's Court, was found guilty of the production of a knife at Sandwith Street, both in Dublin 2, on May 8, 2023. He denied the offensive weapon charge but was found guilty by Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court, handed a sentence, and fined €500. In evidence, the complainant said he was an asylum seeker who had been living in a tent in the encampment. He alleged: "This man came around chasing everybody in the place with a knife". He described it as a kitchen knife and recalled Lawless had his small Yorkshire terrier with him. However, he said the accused threatened to return later with two bigger dogs to "chase us back to wherever we came from". The witness said he called gardaí to report the man coming into the camp to attack "me and two or three guys". He stated he tried to rescue his friends from Lawless. Cross-examined, he agreed he was intimidated not by the little dog with Lawless but because he said he would come back with two big dogs. Challenged over his knife claim, the defence barrister told the witness that Lawless had a trowel for cleaning up after his dog. "It was a knife", he replied. Garda Alan Cawley obtained CCTV footage from the area and took statements. The video evidence was played during the hearing. Garden trowel Rejecting the accusation when he took the stand, Lawless insisted he just went out to walk his dog and had a small garden trowel to clean up after his pet. He said he vaguely remembered the day and denied having anything on him to frighten anyone. Reacting to the complainant's evidence, Lawless said: "That's a complete lie; I deny that," adamant that he never went around carrying a knife. Questioned by the prosecutor, he confirmed he knew there was a refugee camp there because he lived across the road. He said he no longer had the trowel because the dog had died and he had got rid of all his pet's things. When told the item looked like a knife, he replied: "It may do, but I was not carrying a knife." He added that he never spoke to anyone in the camp. Sentencing Judge Hughes did not accept his account and said it was "abundantly clear" in the CCTV footage that he was carrying a silver, chrome, and long knife distinct from a garden trowel. He noted that the accused had one previous conviction for assault causing harm, which led to a Circuit Court imposing an 18-month suspended sentence in 2012. The court heard he had been receiving cancer treatment. Judge Hughes imposed the fine and a nine-month sentence but suspended the final six months on condition he did not re-offend in two years, had no contact with the complainant, stayed away from Sandwith Street, and completed an anger-management course. Lawless was released after lodging an appeal for bail.
