Paranoid drug user caught with knife in Laois
The defendant appeared before Portlaoise District Court
A man who became paranoid due to cocaine use admitted carrying a knife in Portlaoise.
Kevin Houlihan, 30, of Apartment 2, Emmett Street, Mountmellick admitted having the knife at Marian Avenue in Portlaoise on March 22 last.
The court was told the defendant was stopped and searched on Marian Avenue at 4.30pm on the date in question. The defendant was arrested and admitted he shouldn’t have had the knife.
Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client had developed a cocaine addiction and “developed paranoia” due to being “chronically addicted” to the drug.
Mr Fitzgerald said he “had the knife for his own protection in circumstances where he felt under threat.” He told a sitting of Portlaoise District Court that the man had since “taken steps to deal” with his addiction.
Judge Nicola Andrews fined the man €300 and granted legal aid in the case.