Longford man who had knife ‘put mother in fear’ after drugs intake

A judge has directed that a probation report is compiled on a county Longford man, who called his mother a 'scumbag' and put her in fear after she observed him carrying a knife in their home.

The defendant (27), who cannot be named to protect the anonymity of his mother, appeared in Longford District Court last week and pleaded guilty to the offences.

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Sergeant Mark Mahon, court presenter, said on November 25 and 26, 2024 a mother reported her son was smoking cannabis and she asked him to stop.

"He got aggressive towards her and the son subsequently stormed off up to his bedroom.

"His mother confronted him and on two separate occasions he told her to 'Get the f**k out of his room', and he slammed the door in her face.

"The son also took a knife upstairs to his bedroom and she feared he may harm himself or others in the house.

"The mother felt threatened and she was afraid of her son."

Sgt Mahon said this was a breach of the order that was in place and the defendant was arrested and conveyed to the garda station.

The prosecuting officer said the second breach occurred as the son was being brought away by Gardaí on the same date November 26 shortly after 12pm.

"The son was leaving the house following his arrest and he turned around and he shouted abuse at his mother in the presence of Gardaí."

The defendant had no previous convictions.

Solicitor Frank Gearty, defending, addressed Judge Bernadette Owens and said the knife was being used to pierce holes in tinfoil which his client had been using while smoking the cannabis and he read a written submission from the young man. "I was not intending to harm anyway and I certainly never intended to put my mother in fear.

"I now recognise she could have been afraid and I am very sorry,” the defendant added.

Mr Gearty said following the incident his client spent two weeks in St Loman's in Mullingar as an inpatient.

"He has engaged in a very full way with the process of his recovery and the relevant people.

"He hadn't taken cannabis before the event so it would appear it was a probable affect of the cannabis induced issues that led to this.”

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Judge Bernadette Owens heard he the son had now moved back into the house with his mother and relations have improved significantly.

She requested that a probation report be compiled on the defendant and she adjourned the case until November 11 next.