Ireland Case struck out against Longford man found with knife used to cut food
On 11 July 2023, Robert Walliant, a 56-year-old Polish national, was found with a knife at Longford garda station, where he had been using it to cut food because he had no teeth. He was first arrested under the Misuse of Drugs Act, but no drugs were found, and he was later searched at the station, where the knife was discovered. He pleaded guilty to possession of a knife, the Director of Public Prosecutions consented to summary disposal, and Judge Brendan O'Reilly accepted jurisdiction and put the case back temporarily. When the case returned, Walliant had dentures, and the judge struck out the case, as reported in the Longford Leader in October 2023.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Robert Walliant, a 56-year-old Polish national, was found in possession of a knife.
- Where
- The knife was possessed at Longford garda station.
- When
- The offence occurred on 11 July 2023.
- Cause
- Walliant had been using the knife to cut food because he had no teeth.
- Weapon
- The item was a knife.
- Investigation
- Walliant was initially arrested under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
- No drugs were found, and Walliant was later searched at Longford garda station, where the knife was discovered.
- Charges
- Walliant pleaded guilty to possession of a knife.
- In court
- The Director of Public Prosecutions consented to summary disposal, meaning the case could be dealt with in the District Court.
- Judge Brendan O'Reilly accepted jurisdiction and put the case back temporarily.
- Sentence
- Judge O'Reilly struck out the case, given the context in which Walliant was charged.
- Other details
- When the case returned, Walliant was in possession of a set of dentures, as he had since obtained them.
- The Longford Leader reported the case on 24 October 2023; the article itself is dated 25 October 2023.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whereThe knife was possessed at Longford garda station. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe offence occurred on 11 July 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
- causeWalliant had been using the knife to cut food because he had no teeth. (longfordleader.ie)
- weaponThe item was a knife. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationWalliant had initially been arrested under the Misuse of Drugs Act. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationNo drugs were found, and Walliant was later searched at Longford garda station, where the knife was discovered. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeWalliant pleaded guilty to possession of a knife. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions consented to summary disposal, meaning the case could be disposed of in the District Court. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtJudge Brendan O'Reilly accepted jurisdiction and put the case back temporarily. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceJudge O'Reilly struck out the case, given the context in which Walliant was charged. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherWhen the case returned, Walliant was in possession of a set of dentures. (longfordleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 24 Oct2023Longford man with no teeth was using knife to cut food, court is told
Court report on the disposal of the case: the Director of Public Prosecutions consented to summary disposal, and the judge struck out the case. The article also reports that the accused had been arrested under the Misuse of Drugs Act, and that he had since obtained dentures.
accused, Robert Walliant, 56, male, Polish, named, non-irishRobert Walliant