Man with hatchet gets suspended sentence
Photo for illustration purposes
A CARLOW man who appeared at a woman’s door carrying a hatchet has received a suspended prison sentence. James Hurley, 18 Askea Lawns, Carlow was charged with offences under the .
A witness told Carlow District Court that on 25 May 2024 she was in her sitting room with her two children when she heard a bang on the front door. Upon answering, she found Mr Hurley standing there with what she said was an axe in his left hand, but it was clarified in court to be shorter than an axe and therefore a hatchet.
The woman said Mr Hurley told her: “Don’t go near my friend down the road,” before walking away. She testified that he appeared intoxicated and said: “I didn’t deal with him before or since.”
Defending solicitor Joe Farrell said his client claimed he had gone to the wrong door and was carrying a hatchet because he planned to cut sticks for someone. Mr Farrell said Mr Hurley alleged that as he walked away, the witness called out after him: “Who do you think you are?”
When queried about why her front door camera didn’t capture the incident, the witness replied that it was turned at the wrong angle.
The court heard from Garda Kelly that the witness had “previous issues” with the neighbour in question, whom Mr Hurley allegedly told her to stay away from, and that a complaint had been made in relation to this.
According to the garda report, Mr Hurley admitted to knocking on the door and to being intoxicated at the time, and was apologetic. However, in court, Mr Farrell said his client denied being intoxicated or making the alleged statement.
The solicitor told the court that Mr Hurley was married with two children, is currently unemployed but did odd jobs, including chopping wood, and had a “reasonable excuse” for having an item with a sharp blade.
Judge Geraldine Carthy said the witness had given “clear evidence of what she believed had been said to her” and that she “didn’t have anything to gain” from this. She sentenced Mr Hurley to seven months in prison, suspended for 12 months on condition of good behaviour, with €300 own bond.
The judge also directed the defendant to stay away from the housing estate where the witness lived.
