Man had knife ‘for buttering bread’
BY RONAN JUDGE
AN Algerian man found illegally carrying a knife in Galway City claimed he had it for "buttering bread and his own protection”, a court has heard.
Bilal Ramdani (28), an Algerian national of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a knife at Dock Street on January 18.
The offence is contrary to section 9 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.
Sergeant Claire Heneghan told Galway District Court Ramdani was observed acting suspiciously in the Dock Street area an around 8.15pm on the night in question.
Garda Colin Hughes searched the accused under the Misuse of Drugs Act and found a knife in his left jacket pocket.
Sgt Heneghan said Ramdani told Garda Hughes he had the knife for "buttering bread and his own protection".
After looking at a photo of the knife, Judge Valerie Corcoran said, "that's not for buttering bread".
Ramdani has 25 convictions including four for assault, one for unlawful possession of a knife and one for burglary.
Defence barrister, Garry McDonald BL, told the court his client was an asylum seeker from Algeria who had lived in different International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres, since coming to Ireland.
His instructions were that his client had the knife for his own protection and he had been the victim of a stabbing.
Counsel said the offence was possession alone and his client was not brandishing the knife.
Judge Corcoran said the court took into account the account the accused's record and would give credit for the guilty plea.
She said the court was concerned that Ramdani told Gardaí he had the knife for his own protection, indicating he was prepared to use it.
Judge Corcoran set a headline sentence of five months and a post-mitigation prison term of three months, backdated to January 19, when the accused went into custody.
■ Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.