A published poet who went "berserk" and attacked his neighbours with a sword because he thought they were talking about him has been remanded on bail for sentence on July 26th.
Author Christopher Cox (48), of North Circular Road, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting his-then neighbours Mr Paul O'Neill and Ms Lorraine Dowling on July 22, 2002, at North Frederick Street.
Mr Vincent Heneghan BL, counsel for Cox, said his client was a father of eight children who came from an extremely difficult background. He first came to the attention of gardaí at the age of six and had his first conviction before he was 10 years old.
He said that at the time of the incident Cox was living in "homeless accommodation with paper thin walls" and he "had just snapped" that particular night.
Mr Heneghan said Cox had since discovered an ability to express himself through arts and had published a book entitled A Crumlin Lad. He was currently doing a photography course.
Judge Desmond Hogan said, depending on a favourable probation report, he was willing to consider making an order for 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two-year sentence.
"Thank you," Cox told Judge Hogan.