A man "with a myriad of problems”, who brandished a knife as he confronted a Ukrainian couple and their child at their new home in Dublin, has been handed a nine-month sentence.
During the incident, Richard Bohan, 34, of Pimlico Cottages, Pimlico, D8, on February 19th, was "screaming at them to move out".
He pleaded guilty to producing a knife with a three-inch blade capable of inflicting serious injury in a manner likely to intimidate another person on February 19th last in south Dublin.
Cloverhill District Court heard that Bohan observed the family, threw a bucket at them and was "screaming at them to move out".
Judge Alan Mitchell was told that during the incident, Bohan "produced a knife and started to wield that in front of the family".
However, a member of the public distracted him with a sweeping brush, which allowed the couple and their daughter, aged 8, to "retreat into the house".
Gardaí arrived and arrested Bohan under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.
Victim impact statements
Victim impact statements were furnished to Judge Mitchell, who noted the child suffered panic attacks since the incident, but her parents cannot afford psychotherapy.
The judge noted the evidence that Bohan "screamed at them to move out". He remarked that they probably fled to Ireland because of the war in their country, and the victim was a young person who was now suffering.
The court heard Bohan had no previous convictions or warrant record and has been in custody on remand since the incident.
Family members of the accused were present for the hearing.
Pleading for leniency, defence solicitor Matthew de Courcy had said his client suffered from psychiatric difficulties, and there was a report outlining that he had a borderline personality disorder and autism.
He said Bohan had "a myriad of problems; his memory of the incident is hazy, to say the least".
The defence acknowledged that the presence of a young child at the scene made the incident "particularly unsavoury".
However, the solicitor submitted that there were no racial undertones.
Judge Mitchell had ordered a probation report on Bohan to be furnished to the court and said that a suspended sentence would have to include a condition that the offender stay away from individuals or locations.
The final five months of the sentence were suspended on condition he keeps the peace, and it was backdated until February 19th when he went into custody.
