Dad waved knife at security guard and ran after shopper in supermarket, court hears

Thomas Kerrigan (41) is accused of putting the staff member in fear when he came into the store with the knife after a “standoff.”

He was granted bail at Dublin District Court and his case was adjourned for the directions of the DPP to be given.

Mr Kerrigan, of Meridian Court, Royal Canal Park, Ashtown, is charged with violent disorder and producing a knife in the course of a dispute.

Detective Garda Mark Reilly said the incident was alleged to have taken place at Aldi, Hamilton Walk, Ashtown on November 24.

Objecting to bail, he said a customer had a verbal altercation with two males, allegedly including the accused outside the store on the night.

A security man broke it up and brought the customer back into the shop, Det Gda Reilly said.

It was alleged Mr Kerrigan came back in, armed with a large black-handled kitchen knife, approached the member of security staff and made threats, putting him in fear.

The customer left and the accused, still armed with the knife, ran after him, it was alleged.

According to gardai, Mr Kerrigan was identified on CCTV and when his home was searched they seized clothes and a knife that was not the one allegedly produced in the shop but was similar.

The accused lived in an apartment block across from Aldi and had used the store on a daily basis. Staff were fearful he would return if granted bail, the garda said.

Defence solicitor Michael Kelleher said the accused would say a dispute arose because a security guard sought to frisk the person he was with, which Mr Kerrigan had thought was inappropriate.

There was a “standoff” in the shop, Mr Kerrigan left and another man came out and “badly beat” him, Mr Kelleher said.

Det Gda Reilly said the alleged assault on Mr Kerrigan was being looked into as part of the investigation. The allegation was that in the middle of this, someone passed the accused an implement and “with a rush of blood to the head”, he went back in the shop and waved it around in a threatening manner but did not use it or run at anyone, Mr Kelleher said.

Judge Smyth granted bail in the accused’s own bond of €200, with an independent surety of €600 or €400 cash.

Under conditions, he must sign on at his local Garda station, stay away from the shop and not carry a knife. He was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear in Cloverhill District Court on December 6.