Man accused of threatening children with knife on Parnell Sq too ill for court

A man, who allegedly threatened a woman with a baby and two busloads of young children in Dublin while armed with a knife, was too unwell to face his latest court hearing today.

Oisin Peavoy, 38, with an address at Granby Row, Dublin 1, was initially remanded in custody last month after a judge held he was a “danger to the public in his present state”.

At a subsequent hearing, a “fitness to plead” psychiatric assessment of Mr Peavoy was ordered. Mr Peavoy is charged with four offences on the morning of May 28, including two counts under weapons legislation for the production of a knife at Gardiner Street and Parnell Square.

The other two charges are under the Public Order Act for threatening, abusive, or insulting words and behaviour at the two locations. He had refused legal representation, and during a later hearing at Cloverhill District Court, Judge Alan Mitchell asked for a short psychiatric report on Mr Peavoy to address his fitness to plead.

The case resumed today when the Prison Service furnished a sick note saying the accused could not attend the proceedings. Judge Mitchell remanded him in continuing custody in his absence and adjourned the case until July 3.

At the previous hearing on June 5, the accused appeared via video link. Addressing the judge, he insisted he had a different name, was representing himself, and was a British army captain. “Three, two, one speak; what is your name?” he demanded, “in the name of the king”. The accused cursed at the judge repeatedly, saying, “It is my martial court,” and told him, “You are a convict of the crown and will be transported to Africa or elsewhere”.

Earlier, Detective Garda Paul Griffin alleged the accused was armed with a knife during the incidents. He said at 8.42 am, the accused brandished a knife at Parnell Square and then, while acting erratically and aggressively, threatened a woman with her baby telling her to “fuck off”.

“This was totally unprovoked,” he had said, adding that there was a coach full of creche children, which the accused blocked with his hands outstretched. The court heard the children saw him and became “hysterical”, and two of them were allegedly overheard saying, “We’re going to die”.

The court heard the second incident was 35 minutes later when Mr Peavoy allegedly brandished the knife at Gardiner Street. Detective Garda Griffin claimed Mr Peavoy approached a bus carrying school children, but the driver closed the doors.

The garda maintained the accused “stared at the driver and pointed at the knife in a sheath in his belt in a clear attempt to intimidate the driver”. The court heard the children were aged six to 12 years.

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