Man accused of wielding knife in broad daylight claims it was for self-protection
David Covaciu (28) insisted his actions were fuelled by ongoing 'unease' in his estate
David Covaciu on his way into Monaghan Courthouse on Monday morning. Photo Rory Geary
A man in his 20s accused of brandishing a knife in broad daylight in a county Monaghan town on Sunday evening has insisted his actions were fuelled by ongoing 'unease' in the locality and for self-protection purposes.
David Covaciu (28) of Ardee Road, Magheross, Carrickmacross, Monaghan, was remanded in custody by Judge Raymond Finnegan after appearing at a sitting of Monaghan District Court on Monday arising from an incident along Main Street, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan at around 7.30pm the previous evening.
The accused, who had the benefit of a Romanian interpreter, sat in the custody suite of the court as details surrounding the alleged episode and three ensuing charges were heard.
They included two charges of knife possession under section 9 (1) and (4) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990 alongside a section 6 public order charge.
Inspector Damien Martin addressed the court at the outset of proceedings to reveal the State were objecting to bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act 1997.
Garda Barry Sheehy underlined those objections on the basis of the seriousness of the charges adding that the section 9 (4) charge carried the possibility of up to five years in prison on indictment
David Covaciu on his way into Monaghan Courthouse on Monday morning. Photo Rory Geary
Judge Finnegan was similarly informed of how those objections also extended to alleged evidence gardai had which included eye witness accounts and video footage that showed him allegedly acting in an 'aggressive and threatening' manner.
Garda Sheehy added how it will be contended the unemployed former farm worker was caught 'red-handed' in broad daylight in an episode that had caused 'considerable distress' locally.
Defence solicitor Roísín Courtney detailed how her client had instructed her his decision to carry a flick-knife had stemmed from fears over his own personal safety.
'I am not in any way justifying carrying a knife. I asked him the blank question as to why he was carrying a knife and he said was for his own protection as there is some unease in the local estate where he lives,' she told the court.
Ms Courtney added how her client had ties to the area and had been living locally for much of the past decade.
Garda Sheehy replied, saying gardaí were aware of some 'ongoing issues' over the past two to three weeks in the greater Carrickmacross area that had led to a 'bit of unrest'.
Read more Armed man arrested after he's spotted wielding knife at traffic in broad daylight
He also stated gardaí had recovered the weapon they believed had been used during the incident, describing it as being silver in colour and four inches in length.
Garda Sheehy also insisted, when asked by Judge Finnegan, that those caught up in the incident were 'not directly' linked to the aforementioned tension which had emerged locally in recent times.
In summing up the State's case, Inspector Martin said the incident and its immediate aftermath had generated 'considerable disquiet' in the local community.
'It was very threatening behaviour in Main Street on a Sunday evening,' he said.
'There are fears as we don't know what his motivations were and we don't why he was carrying a knife and we have no guarantees this behaviour won't escalate.'
In response, Ms Courtney said Covaciu was 'very drunk' and could not recall his involvement in what had transpired less than 24 hours earlier.
Having been presented with video footage of the incident by gardaí during his detention, Ms Courtney said her client had shown 'incredible remorse' and was 'shocked' by his behaviour.
To that end, she insisted 'stringent conditions' would suffice in addressing the concerns both the State and the court may harbour as to whether Covaciu would answer his bail.
Judge Finnegan, however, disagreed and remanded Covaciu in custody to appear back at a sitting of Cavan District Court via video link on Thursday.
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