A Limerick man was jailed for six months yesterday after gardaí caught him carrying a walking stick that concealed a 12-inch sword.
Gardaí stopped Patrick Bermingham (19), of Pineview Gardens, Moyross, Limerick, during a patrol of Craeval Park, also in Moyross, at 7.10pm last Monday.
Det Garda Ger Healy told Limerick District Court yesterday that when they stopped Bermingham he was carrying a walking stick, and when its handle was removed a 12-inch sword was contained inside.
Solicitor for the defendant Aeneas McCarthy said his client had no "ulterior motive" for carrying the walking stick, and it was "simply an ornament".
His client had "no intention" of accosting or assaulting anyone.
Judge John O'Neill said it was not normal for people to walk around with ornaments, and described the walking stick as an implement that could inflict "untold damage". He said Bermingham had offered "no reason" for having the implement, and jailed him for six months.
