Curfew for man who ‘loses the run of himself’

A curfew has been imposed on a man who the court was told “loses the run of himself with drink” .

31-year-old Jason Crowley (31) of Rock Street, Kenmare was before Tralee District Court after being arrested for possession of a sharply pointed knife at the Square, Kenmare, at lunchtime on Tuesday, August 11th.

Members of the public in Kenmare had phoned the garda station to say a man was going down the street with a bread knife, Garda James Hendrick said in evidence.

"I could see the handle of a bread knife sticking out of his pocket," Garda Hendrick told Judge John King.

Mr Crowley has 12 previous convictions , but he “was not of a criminal nature,”, the court was also told.

Judge John King asked if the knife charge was out of character and he was told it was.

“Mr Crowley is a very nice man when sober, but unfortunately when Mr Crowley takes drink, he loses the run of himself,” Garda Hendrick said.

Padraig O’Connell, solicitor for Jason Crowley said his client suffered from a number of physical and psychological medical conditions .

“Unfortunately he has only one leg,” the solicitor said.

Mr Crowley pleaded guilty to the knife charge, which was indeed “out of character,” Mr O’Connell said.

“He is not of a criminal nature,” the solicitor said.

His client’s 12 previous convictions related to a period when he was homeless in Tralee.

“He was literally living from hedge to ditch, he now lives with his mother in Kenmare and it’s the first time he has caused any offence since moving back,” Mr O’Connell said.

The bread knife was from his kitchen and was because of a very real sense of threat from a non-national who was also arrested, the solicitor continued.

Mr Crowley had co-operated fully and he was always truthful, Garda Hendrick agreed with Mr O’Connell.

Judge John King said he would adjourn the matter for a probation report. Mr Crowley who stood alongside his solicitor apologised to the court for his offence.

Judge King imposed a nightly curfew as well as an obligation to sign on at Kenmare Garda Station on Mr Crowley.