Year in prison for man wielding knife in 'very serious' incident at Offaly take-away

A YOUNG Birr man who wielded a knife during an early morning dispute at a take-away in Birr has been jailed for a year.

Judge Keenan Johnson imposed an 18-month sentence on Ceilim Ryan, The Heritage, Birr, but suspended the last six months.

However, the sentence will run consecutive to a two-year jail term, with six months suspended, the 23-year-old is already serving for an offence in Cork.

A sentencing hearing at Tullamore Circuit Court was told that Mr Ryan had previously pleaded guilty to producing a knife capable of causing serious injury at Birr Chef Kebab Pizza, High Street, Birr on August 13, 2023.

Detective Garda Cormac Flanagan said the background to the offence was that verbal exchanges had taken place involving two other young individuals at the take-away and when matters escalated phone calls were made which resulted in Ceilim Ryan and his parents Noel Ryan and Fiona O'Shea arriving at the scene.

Noel Ryan had a hurley and Ceilim Ryan had a knife which he produced from inside his jacket and then wielded.

Fiona O'Shea tried to get her son out of the premises and though he re-entered after coming out she eventually succeeded in getting him to vacate it.

Noel Ryan subsequently pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and received a suspended sentence of nine months on condition he paid €1,500 compensation.

Detective Garda Flanagan said Ceilim Ryan had been on the premises for about a minute-and-a-half and there was CCTV footage of what happened and it clearly captured him producing the knife during what turned into a very serious incident.

The court heard Mr Ryan lived in Birr with a partner and two children and had 27 previous convictions, including convictions at Cork Circuit Court on May 9 last for endangerment, dangerous driving and possession of a knife.

Those offences were committed on October 12, 2022 and Mr Ryan had offended while on bail.

He had other convictions for criminal damage, assault and drugs.

Suzanne Dooner, BL, for Mr Ryan, said a number of his earlier offences had been committed when he was under the age of 18 and on the night of the offence at the take-away he had been responding to a call for help. Nobody was injured in the incident.

Ms Dooner said Mr Ryan's children were aged two-and-a-half and seven months and while he was now in Peter McVerry Trust accommodation, he had previously been in a caravan outside the family home.

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The court had psychological and medical reports on Mr Ryan and he had been diagnosed with a number of mental health issues having been identified with psychiatric issues at the age of 14.

Judge Keenan Johnson said that though Mr Ryan's life had not been a “bed of roses” he had stopped taking prescribed medication.

“Unless he helps himself there's going to be no hope for him going forward,” said Judge Johnson.

Ms Dooner said the man had experienced very negative effects from medication but when he presented himself to a psychiatry department he was refused entry.

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He had the benefit of the probation service previously, he done a safe pass course and begun a dumper driving course.

Giving his sentence, Judge Johnson said the prevalence of knife crime had become a source of great concern to the gardai and Mr RyanBurglars jailed after €24,000 cash stolen from house in Offaly had armed himself with a knife.

“It's fortunate his mother was there and was able to calm down the situation,” remarked the judge.

A report before the court said that Mr Ryan was at high risk of reoffending and there were very significant mental health difficulties in the background.

Judge Johnson said it was clear to him that his mother was to be commended for doing her best to seek treatment for her son and he would have to take his mental health issues in hand himself.

A report indicated that while previous medication had an adverse impact, recent medication had a positive effect.

While he had had a sad life for such a young man, he now owed it to himself and his children to look after his mental health.

Judge Johnson ordered that the suspended portion of the sentence run for five years and Mr Ryan also had to enter into a five-year peace bond and remain under the supervision of the probation service for 18 months after his release.

The judge also said that separation from his children while he was in prison was also a consequent penalty on Mr Ryan.