Had machete for his own protection after dispute
Carlow Courthouse
A CARLOW man with 66 previous convictions appeared before the local district court last week where he admitted having a machete after a family dispute. Gary Doran, 8 Springfield Park, Burrin Road, Carlow pleaded guilty to possessing the knife when he was stopped by gardaí at Bridge Street, Carlow on 3 October 2023.
Sergeant Hud Kelly told the court that gardaí had been called out to an incident at The Willows housing estate that night, where they heard about someone having a machete. He continued that the gardaí subsequently stopped a car on Bridge Street with Mr Doran in it and that he was in possession of the machete. Mr Doran told the gardaí that he had the knife “for his own protection”, the court heard.
Sgt Kelly told Judge Geraldine Carthy that 25-year-old Mr Doran had 66 previous convictions.
Solicitor Joe Farrell said that his client had taken responsibility for the knife and that there had been a family dispute about “a lady’s honour” and that Mr Doran had “taken umbrage over it”.
Judge Carthy sentenced Mr Doran, who is already in custody, to nine months in prison, suspending the final two months. She also ordered him to engage with the Probation Service on his release.
