By Ronan Judge

A “passionate” musician and craftsman who was arrested in Galway in possession of a “vicious-looking article” of a knife has been urged to get his life back on track.

Pawel Stawicki (45), of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two charges of unlawful possession of knives contrary to section 9 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.

Sergeant Claire Heneghan told the court that the accused had come to the attention of Gardaí in Millennium Park, off University Road, on April 7 and after a search, was found in possession of a bladed knife.

After looking at a photo of the knife, Judge King said, “a vicious-looking article isn’t it?”

Sgt Heneghan said that on July 29, Pawel Stawicki was living in his car near the Briarhill Shopping Centre where he was observed acting in a suspicious manner.

The court heard a knife was again found after a search and his car was seized.

Sgt Heneghan told the court that in both cases, there was no suggestion Stawicki produced the knives in a threatening manner or used them for violence or intimidation.

He had no previous convictions. Pawel Stawicki also pleaded guilty to an offence of failing to appear at Galway District Court on April 14.

He told the court he had gone to visit his brother in Dublin and could not afford the travel fare back to Galway.

Defence solicitor, Michael Cunningham, told the court his client moved to Ireland 20 years ago from Poland and had regularly worked in the construction industry until the last couple of years when he fell on hard times.

Mr Cunningham said his client had a passion for creating musical instruments and had hand-crafted the first knife seized in April by Gardaí.

“He seems to be quite a passionate man and his passion seems to be in music and crafts,” he added.

Pawel Stawicki told the court he used that knife to create a Spanish Gypsy type of drum.

The court heard he had recently secured accommodation through COPE homeless services.

Judge King said: “This is man who badly needs to get his life back on track”.

He directed a report from the Probation and Welfare Services, a Garda behaviour report and adjourned the case to April 8.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme

Pictured: Millennium Park: man found with ‘vicious-looking’ knife.