Ireland Crime

Man fined €300 for carrying knife in Portlaoise

{"tldr":"Kevin Houlihan, a 30-year-old man, was stopped and searched on Marian Avenue in Portlaoise, Laois, at 4.30pm on 22 March, and was arrested after the search. He later admitted at Portlaoise District Court that he had carried a knife there, and his solicitor said he had developed a cocaine addiction. Judge Nicola Andrews fined him €300 and granted legal aid, and the case was reported on 19 April 2024 in the tracker and 21 April 2024 in the article."," "facts":[{"kind":"what","text":"Kevin Houlihan, a 30-year-old man, admitted carrying a knife in Portlaoise."},{"kind":"where","text":"The knife was carried on Marian Avenue in Portlaoise, Laois."},{"kind":"when","text":"He was stopped and searched on Marian Avenue at 4.30pm on 22 March."},{"kind":"weapon","text":"The weapon was a knife."},{"kind":"investigation","text":"He was arrested after the search and admitted he should not have had the knife."},{"kind":"charge","text":"The offence was possession of a knife."},{"kind":"cause","text":"His solicitor, Barry Fitzgerald, said he had developed a cocaine addiction and paranoia."},{"kind":"other","text":"He said he had the knife for his own protection because he felt under threat."},{"kind":"court","text":"The case was heard at Portlaoise District Court."},{"kind":"sentence","text":"Judge Nicola Andrews fined him €300 and granted legal aid."},{"kind":"when","text":"The tracker dates the report 19 April 2024, while the article is published 21 April 2024."}]}