Jail for homeless man who threatened gardaí in Kildare
Photo for illustrative purposes only
A HOMELESS man who threatened gardaí with a homemade spear requiring the intervention of the ARU for apprehension was jailed for an additional five months at Naas District Court on 6 November, having already been remanded in custody for two months on the issue.
Robert Serafin (52) of no fixed abode but living in a tent at Frenchfurze on the Curragh, appeared in Naas District Court in person from Garda custody for sentencing, having initially been detained on 3 September.
At his initial appearance on 4 September Garda Cian Horan told the court how Mr Serafin was charged with a total of nine offences, including possession of articles, to wit, two Stanley knives, five screwdrivers, and the spear fashioned out of a screwdriver tied to the top of a stick.
“He’d be well known around Kildare town, and with alcohol, he can be very aggressive,” said Garda Horan.
“We heard he was living about 300m from the (damaged) house, and when speaking to him he produced a screwdriver, a flick knife, a Stanley blade out of the tent,” said Garda Horan.
“For our own safety we called the Garda Armed Response Unit (ARU),” he confirmed.
“He threatened you?” asked the judge.
“Intimidation,” said Garda Horan.
“Pepper spray had to be used,” he said, before producing the homemade spear from beneath him.
The bough was about a metre long, maybe a centimetre thick, and it had 20cm screwdriver tied securely to the top.
“Is that for spear fishing? A bit of Robinson Crusoe?” smiled the judge.
“He is known around Kildare town, so he wouldn’t be hard to find,” said defending solicitor Brian Larkin.
In court at his latest appearance, Sergeant Dave Hanrahan added that Mr Serafin was also charged with breaking a car’s windscreen worth €300 on 25 August in a separate issue to when the ARU were called.
“It’s a very sorry set-up, living in a tent,” said defending solicitor Brian Larkin.
“But he never acted out or would have gone after anyone with the knife. He had things stolen, and his tent was wrecked. He simply had this apparatus to scare people away.” Mr Larkin continued: “He has been remanded in custody for six weeks. It’s a very sorry set up. His behaviour is entirely due to alcohol.
“He normally sleeps homeless in a tent, and that’s why he is where he is."
Judge Desmond Zaidan jailed Serafin for two months for the damaged windscreen but backdated this sentence to 3 September when he was first remanded in custody.
He then jailed him for a further five consecutive months on the weapon charge, adding: “with good behaviour he will be out before he has his appeal lodged”.
“Where’s he going when he gets out?” asked the judge.
“There is a hostel he can get into,” said his translator, before the judge then set Serafin’s appeal bond at €150.
