A man who armed himself with knuckledusters and a baton ‘for no apparent reason’ has been spared prison, at Derry Magistrate’s Court.
Aaron O’Kane, 26, of Melrose Terrace, admitted possessing the offensive weapons on December 9 of last year on the Dungiven Road.
A Public Prosecution Service (PPS) representative said that at 4am on that date police were on mobile patrol when near Violet Street when they came across ‘a male with a weapon’. When they ‘caught up with him’ his pockets were emptied of an ‘extendable baton and knuckledusters’.
Defence barrister Eoghan Devlin said his client refused to engage with a programme offered by Woodlea House. He explained that O’Kane has his own ‘difficulties and dependencies’ and he couldn’t understand why the offer wasn’t taken up. In his view, the 26-year-old will continue to commit offences ‘as long as he has dependency’ issues.
The court was told that O’Kane became ‘isolated from friends and family’ and ‘stupidly as someone with a suspended sentence’ decided to arm himself with weapons ‘for no apparent reason’. Mr Devlin said his client ‘had no friction with anyone else’.
He suggested an alternative to custody would be either a community service order (CSO) or an adjournment. Defence counsel believed O’Kane would be ‘a nuisance to people’ for the ‘foreseeable future’ if he doesn’t address his dependencies.
“He’s not difficult when sober but a livewire when he takes drink or drugs,” he added.
District Judge Barney McElholm said these offences took place ‘within three months’ of O’Kane being handed a suspended sentence for assault. “He armed himself with a knuckleduster type device and a baton. He didn’t use them on anyone, but of course that could’ve been just a matter of time,” he added.
A sentence of six months in prison, suspended for two years was imposed. The 26-year-old must also complete a twelve-month probation order during which time he will ‘participate actively in a drugs/alcohol treatment programme’ and ‘comply with all instructions given by the person in charge.’
O’kane was also warned that it is his ‘very last chance’ and if he’s back ‘for anything similar he will be going to prison.’
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