A 28-year-old man has been jailed for five months for the brandishing of a knife in broad daylight on the Main Street of Carrickmacross.
David Covaciu with an address at Ardee Road, Magheross, Carrickmacross pleaded guilty at Monaghan District Court today in relation to offences under the firearms and offensive weapons act 1990.
The charges relate to the possession of a knife in a public place along with a charge for abusive and threatening language under the Public Order Act.
The district court heard today, Mr Covaciu was arrested by Gardai in Carrickmacross following a number of reports that a man was brandishing a knife in the town centre of Carrickmacross on Sunday the 27th of April 2025.
On arrest the 28-year-old was found to be carrying the weapon after he had been yielding the knife in a threatening manner at passing traffic in the town. Judge Raymond Finnegan was told that The Romanian national has 6 previous convictions, one involving a dangerous driving charge in relation to a hit-and-run.
Defence solicitor, Roisin Courtney told the court that her client arrived in Ireland in 2017 and has been in and out of work during that period. She said Mr Covaciu was currently unemployed and a father or two, with both children living in Romania.
Ms Courtney said that her client wants to return home to his native country, saying that at the time of the incident, he felt in danger and this was the reason why he was carrying a knife at the time.
Judge Finnegan responded by saying that, "I don't think he was in any danger from the family in the car that he was brandishing the knife at".
David Covaciu has been in custody since his arrest on the 27th of April. Judge Raymond Finnegan in handing down a sentence of 5 months said the incident was terrifying and it brought unrest to the town of Carrickmacross.
The Romanian national also appeared in court today in relation to a speeding offence on the N2 that occurred on the 7th of November last year in Co Monaghan. Mr Finnegan fined the 28-year-old €400 for the speeding charge of 125km/ph in a 100km/ph zone.
Monaghan District Court was told on April 28th that Mr Covaciu was seen by a number of eye witnesses and also captured on mobile phone footage that was widely circulated on social media.
Judge Raymond Finnegan was told by Inspector Damien Martin at the time that the suspect could be seen in broad daylight on a Sunday evening brandishing a silver flick-knife, 4 inches in length in an aggressive manner that caused great distress to the general public.
He also appeared last month at Monaghan District Court while in custody on a number of other charges relating to being stopped at a service station in Castleblayney on the 15th of March this year. On this occasion, he was the driver of a vehicle and was arrested after he tested positive for both cannabis and alcohol. He was found to have no insurance, no NCT and no tax at that time also.
His alcohol reading was 107 and he had a previous conviction in 2019 for dangerous driving. The court heard he has been living in Ireland since 2017 and he has two children. He was disqualified for driving for 2 years along with the Section 56, no insurance, the court heard he paid €500 and was also disqualified from driving for 5 months.
