A Galway man faces activation of a four year suspended sentence for possession of a shotgun because of a subsequent conviction for having a flick knife in Athlone.
Martin Campbell was given the four year suspended sentence by Judge Frank O'Donnell at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in February 2008 on strict conditions which included a good behaviour bond but just seven months later was arrested in Athlone in possession of a flick knife.
Garda Brian Boland told Judge O'Donnell that Campbell pleaded guilty on January 30 last (2009 ) at Athlone District Court to possession of the flick knife in the town on September 18, 2008.
Campbell (21 ) of Curragh Park, Hymany, Ballinasloe, told Judge O'Donnell: "I pleaded guilty to it but I have a reasonable explanation".
He had been caught at Coultry Road, Ballymun on July 10, 2006 with a sawn-off shotgun he had bought a fortnight previously with the intention of harming himself and pleaded guilty to having it unlawfully.
Gda Boland agreed with defence counsel, Mr Erwan Mill-Arden SC, that it had been raised in mitigation on behalf of Campbell at the District Court that he claimed to be unaware that the knife was in the jacket he was wearing, and said that it was a knife he used for fishing.
He agreed that the knife was rusty and that it was a fold-out knife rather then a "button release" blade.
Gda Boland told Mr Mill-Arden there had been "no mention" in Athlone District Court that the knife might have been put in the jacket by a female known to Campbell because there was "a rapist in the area”.
Judge O'Donnell noted "there might be a relatively innocent explanation" and adjourned the case again to a date in October.
Garda Ronan McMorrow told prosecuting counsel, Mr Colm O’Briain BL, at the February 2008 hearing, that the shotgun was recovered after gardai responded to a call about a man carrying it and found Campbell and his mother having an argument at the scene.
Mr Mill-Arden at that hearing described Campbell as "a young man with no serious previous convictions for whom this incident was completely out of character".
He said he had been instructed by Campbell to apologise to his mother, the gardai and the court. He accepted this incident was "mad behaviour" and he was eager to change life around.
