Slash hook and knife produced during dispute between neighbours in Louth

An incident where two men produced a slash hook and a knife, was linked to a minor dispute between neighbours “that got out of hand”, Dundalk district court was told last week.

Leigh Kearney (29) and Kaylem Kearney (26) with addresses at the time at O’Hanlon Park, Dundalk pleaded guilty to the production of an offensive weapon arising out of the incident on April 9th 2021.Gardaí received a report shortly before 2.30pm of men running around with weapons in O’Hanlon Park with one witness, who had arrived by car after hearing her son was involved in a row with both defendants, saying Leigh Kearney, who had a knife had started shouting abuse at her and banging on the bonnet.

Kaylem Kearney came out of the house with a slash and chased her son around the corner with it.

A statement of complaint was subsequently withdrawn, but the case proceeded as CCTV footage showed both men with the weapons.

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The court heard Kaylem Kearney had no previous convictions and has not come to garda attention since, while Leigh Kearney had nine. 

The DPP had directed the case could be dealt with at district court level on a guilty plea being entered, but jurisdiction had been refused.

Judge Dara Hayes imposed a 12 month suspended sentence on Kaylem Kearney, but noting Leigh Kearney’s circumstances are somewhat different, as he has a record for previous and relevant offending, he imposed a 15 month sentence.