Drug-induced psychosis led to man brandishing slash-hook at filling station, court hears

A ‘drug-induced psychosis’ was the reason for a man taking a slash-hook and searching for ‘people’ who had hidden in his van, Kilkenny District Court has been told.

The ‘frightening’ incident occurred on the forecourt of a Kilkenny filling station in the early hours of the morning and resulted in a prison sentence.

John Walsh, 13 Lord Edward Street, Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to being in possession of a slash hook and a garden fork, contrary to Section 9 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.

He also pleaded guilty to charges of being intoxicated in public and with using threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour.

Sergeant Morgan O’Connor said that on August 3, 2023, at about 1.45am, Mr Walsh drove his Transit van onto the forecourt of the Applegreen at Jordanstown, Paulstown. He sounded the horn of the vehicle in front of the customer ‘hatch’ where there were staff, inside, working. The building was locked up.

Mr Walsh continued beeping the horn, then got out of the van with a slash hook and said there were ‘people’ around. He asked the staff if they knew where these people were. He did not threaten the staff.
Mr Walsh put the slash hook back into the van.

Gardaí were called by the staff and when they arrived found Mr Walsh walking around the van. He was arrested because of his intoxicated state and what had occurred.

The slash hook and garden fork were in the van.

The court heard Mr Walsh had 37 previous convictions.

Solicitor Chris Hogan described it as ‘an unusual case’. Around this time Mr Walsh’s relationship had broken down. He had an addiction to drugs and it became problematic, affecting his mental health.

The van was Mr Walsh’s work van, with his work tools inside. They were not there for any ‘nefarious purpose’, Mr Hogan explained. At the time Mr Walsh was living in his van, due to the relationship breakdown.

Mr Walsh was going through a ‘drug-induced psychosis’ the solicitor told the court. His client had believed there were people in the back of his van who then got out and hid behind a lorry. He then believed they were under his van.
There were no such people, Mr Hogan said.

CCTV had shown Mr Walsh walking around his van, checking both slides before getting back into his van, Mr Hogan said. Later it showed him getting back out of the van and checking under it.

Mr Walsh was no threat to anyone in the petrol station, Mr Hogan said.

Since this incident Mr Walsh has been attending his GP for regular urine analysis, which is clear. He is now in a relationship and is working.

Judge Geraldine Carthy described it as a ‘very serious matter’. She noted Mr Hogan had said the staff were not threatened, but said it was ‘quite frightening’.

The judge said she was satisfied the offence merited a custodial sentence and on the charge of being in possession of offensive weapons Mr Walsh was sentenced to six months imprisonment.

The other charges were taken into consideration.

Recognisances was fixed in the event of an appeal.