Intoxicated man running around Laois estate had knife on his ankle and back

A man who was “running around an estate with a chain in his hand” had a knife attached to his leg and another between his shoulder blades.

Igor Arcire, 62, of 7 The Maisonettes, Quigley Park, Rathdowney admitted being intoxicated and abusive at Quigley Park and having a five inch knife and a nine inch knife at Portlaoise Garda Station on December 27, 2023. 

He appeared before Portlaoise District Court where Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby outlined the case against him. 

He said the defendant was “highly intoxicated running around the estate with a chain in his hands.” He was aggressive towards responding gardaí and he “called Garda Sosinska a bitch.”

He was arrested and gardai discovered “a five inch knife on his right ankle”, said Sgt Kirby. “Another type of knife was found on his back between his shoulder blades,” he added. He said the defendant had no previous convictions. 

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client had left it “very late in his life to be appearing before the district court.” He said it appears to have been an isolated incident. The man is from Moldova and has congenital difficulties, he said. 

Mr Fitzgerald explained that his client was on medication and had drank alcohol. He said there is no rational explanation for the behaviour but his client informed him that his strimmer broke and “he started using the short knife to cut the grass” and then used the larger one. 

“He was heavily medicated at the time,” said Mr Fitzgerald. 

Noting the early plea and the lack of previous convictions, Judge Nicola Andrews said she would apply the probation act if the defendant paid €500 to charity by September 23. If he doesn’t, she said he would be convicted and fined €1,000.