Man threatened to stab couple in the neck at Louth supermarket

A man who produced a knife and threatened to stab a couple in the neck if they didn't give him money, has no memory of the incident, has been jailed for two and a half years at Dundalk Circuit Court.

Morgan Ryan (26) also known as Morgan Butterly with an address at the Simon Community, Barrack Street, Dundalk and formerly of Simon Community, The Boulevard, Grangerath, Drogheda pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery, at Tesco Extra, Stapleton Place, Dundalk on April 27th last year.

Charges of threatening to kill or cause serious harm and possession of a knife, were taken into consideration at the sentencing hearing.

The court heard the defendant was frothing at the mouth and holding a partially crushed can of energy drink, when he approached the couple who were walking back to the car park and asked for €3 which he claimed was for his girlfriend's bus fare to Drogheda.

He then said he had a knife and added "I'll stab you in the neck".

READ NEXT: Gardaí clock driver doing nearly double the limit outside Louth school at busy home time

The couple, who were in fear, walked with him to an ATM and Morgan Ryan, while holding a knife flat on the palm of his hand continued to make threats.

After the woman handed him €20 from the cash machine he told the couple he was there for their safety and to protect them before he tried to get them to hug and fist bump him.

The knife was recovered from a bench outside the premises and when he was eventually fit to be questioned, he claimed he was only asking people for a bit of change.

Judge Dara Hayes noted the defendant had a history of poly-substance abuse and was effectively exposed to drugs in utero.

He had 43 previous convictions and his Defence barrister said he had spent the last eight Christmases in custody and is in protective custody in Wheatfield prison.

He imposed a three and a half year sentence with the final 12 months suspended for 18 months to encourage him to engage with the Probation Service and drug rehabilitation.