Foyle Street Bus Depot.
A teenager who bought a hammer to defend himself after he was threatened by a man with a knife has been blasted by Derry’s Resident Magistrate.
Mr Barney McElholm hit out after 18-year-old Johnny Crumlish, of Trasna Way in Lisnaskea in Co Fermanagh, pleaded guilty to a charge of having of an offensive weapon at Foyle Street.
A prosecuting solicitor told the court police were called to the city centre on the afternoon of 2 April last after a report of a man wielding a hammer.
The court was told Crumlish, who had been visiting relatives in the city at the time, was located at the bus depot on Foyle Street and that a hammer was found in his pocket when searched.
The court heard that during police interviews he initially denied having the hammer but later admitted he had bought it to defend himself against “someone he could not or would not name.”
Defence solicitor, Paddy MacDermott, told Mr McElholm Crumlish had bought the hammer in a nearby shop after a knife was “wielded” at him.
However, Mr McElholm said the accused’s behaviour was “absolutely disgraceful.”
Mr McElholm said: “The thing I don’t understand is this man’s approach to the situation.
“Rather than contact the police he goes and buys a hammer and starts swinging it about when the area is full of children and older people.
“If someone threatened me with a knife I would not go and buy a hammer, I would phone the police.”
Warning the accused about his future behaviour, Mr McElholm said members of the public, including the person who reported the matter to police, were “extremely annoyed and upset by the whole incident.’
He added: “If that’s the way he is going to behave he better stay out of this city or the next time I see him, I’ll send him to jail.”
Mr McElholm added: “This sort of behaviour is absolutely disgraceful.”
Imposing a fine of £500 and a £15 offender’s levy, Mr McElholm told Crumlish he had 26 weeks to pay and if he failed to do so he would be jailed.
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