Teen had large knife at Laois church to cut communion cake, court hears

A large knife wielded by a teenager who ran at a bare chested man outside a church in Laois was brought there to cut the communion cake, a court was told.

A boy (17), who has a Tipperary address and cannot be named due to his age, appeared before Portlaoise District Court accused of producing a large kitchen knife at St Peter and Paul’s Church in Portlaoise on May 17, 2025. 

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said the youth, who was accompanied to court by family members, was pleading guilty to the offence. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said Garda Detectives were on routine patrol when they noticed a large gathering outside St Peter and Paul's Church. He explained that they observed “a bare chested male in the car park acting aggressively”. 

“A youth ran at the male carrying a large silver kitchen knife,” said Sgt Kirby. 

Gardaí sounded their sirens and the crowd dispersed, he explained. 

Sgt Kirby said the defendant had not been the instigator. He said the bare chested male was being verbally aggressive. 

Mr Fitzgerald said a relation of the defendant was the “instigator” and was “bare chested and out of control” on the day in question. He told Judge Andrew Cody that the knife had been in a car nearby and had been intended for use to cut the communion cake.  

“Were there no knives in the house?” asked Judge Cody. 

He questioned anyone “bringing a large kitchen knife to the church yard of a communion”. When a female relation of the defendant said that the knife was in the car to cut the communion cake, Judge Cody said “don’t give me poppycock” and he ordered her to leave the courtroom. 

Mr Fitzgerald said his client was 16 at the time of the incident. “His sister was  under threat from this bare chested male,” he explained. He said the youth had acted “out of a sense of duty” on the day. 

Judge Cody noted the boy had no previous convictions but said “this is a very serious incident in my view, behaving like that at a holy communion”.  

“Has he no respect for God nor man in a church yard?” he asked.     

Mr Fitzgerald said the court’s views were well founded but he said his client had cooperated with Gardaí who he said were “relatively well disposed” to his client. He said the youth had “no propensity to violence” and had no previous convictions.  

“It was a situation that got out of control,” said Mr Fitzgerald. 

Judge Cody ordered a probation and welfare report and remanded the youth on bail to appear again at Portlaoise District Court on March 26.