05-05-2025
Man allegedly caught with knife chooses to go into custody rather than pay €100 bail
13 bench warrants had been issued for Ritvars Razma's arrest since March 2017
A factory worker accused of being found with a knife in a midlands town during the early hours of the morning has opted to go into custody instead of paying €100 cash bail.
Ritvars Razma (27) of Bracklin Park, Edgeworthstown, Longford was brought before a sitting of Mullingar District Court following an incident along the mid Longford town's Pound Street on Thursday, May 1.
Garda Padraig Shanley gave evidence of having arrested Razma at 1:40am for an alleged offence contrary to section 9 (1) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.
Ritvars Razma outside Mullingar Courthouse.
He said the accused was later charged shortly after 3:30am and made no reply after caution when the charge was put to him.
The penalty for knife possession on summary conviction, a legal term referring to cases that are disposed of in the District Court can attract a maximum term of 12 months in prison.
Judge Peter White was told there were State objections to bail based on Razma's previous record in attending court, adding 13 bench warrants had been issued for his arrest since March 2017.
Those fears were outlined by the prosecuting garda who revealed how he had been made aware of a bench warrant that had been in existence for Razma during his period of detention on Wednesday.
Garda Shanley said four of those had been recorded since last November alone, a statistic which he said illustrated Razma's 'total disregard' for the Irish judicial system.
Ritvars Razma was arrested after being allegedly found with a knife in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford during the early hours of yesterday (Thursday) morning.
When asked by Sgt Orla Keenan whether any conditions attached to Razma's bail terms would allay any fears gardaí harboured about the pet food worker's propensity to attend court, Garda Shanley simply replied: 'Not particularly, no.'
Defence counsel Andrea Callan BL said her client had, in fact, showed up at Longford District Court on Tuesday in order to answer the said warrant but had been told to return home by his solicitor when it emerged it wasn't available for execution.
Garda Shanley corroborated those version of events and that he wasn't aware of the outstanding warrant when he arrested the accused during the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Ms Callan added Razma worked in a local dog and cat food factory, stating any curfew conditions would inflict a 'significant imposition' on him owing to his shift work patterns.
Judge White said the court was compelled to consider the State's concerns regarding Razma's warrant background, but would be willing to grant bail subject to a cash lodgement being made.
In remanding Razma in custody with consent to bail on his own bond of €200, a lodgement of €100 was directed along with further conditions including the provision of a mobile number within 24 hours and for the accused to remain of sober habits in a public place.
Despite the case being put back for a short period to allow Razma consider lodging the required €100, the accused was led away and taken into custody by gardaí a matter of minutes later ahead of an anticipated return date before Longford District Court this Tuesday (May 6).
