Gardai fled man who hid knife in underwear
McNamara had lost control after failing to make contact with family members by telephone from Roxboro garda station following his arrest in the early hours of June 20.
The accused, who pleaded guilty to six counts of assaulting gardai, two counts of possession of a knife and one of criminal damage, became so enraged that he stabbed himself in the stomach during the frenzy.
The incident took place following McNamara's arrest for being in possession of a kitchen knife at 1.30am on the morning in question. He produced the other knife from his underpants after handcuffs were removed from him at the garda station.
None of the gardai was injured during the incident but McNamara, in addition to stabbing himself in the stomach, also drove his fist through a window at the station.
He then walked out of the station and gave himself up at Roxboro shopping centre.
Defence solicitor Ted McCarthy said that his client had a "fairly torrid" upbringing and it was pre-ordained that he would have difficulties with drink and narcotics.
- Eugene Hogan
