Kells man shouting in middle of road with a large knife before assaulting couple

A Kells man was told by a judge in court “no person is entitled to drink themselves into such a state” after assaulting a couple and one of their mothers on New Year’s Day.

Joseph Rodgers (34), of 1 Suffolk Street, Kells pleaded guilty to assault, assault causing harm, and criminal damage.

Garda Barry Smith told the court that on 1st January 2025, just after New Year's Eve, there was a report of a man highly intoxicated at Church Street in Kells. On the way to the call Gardai were flagged down by a woman. She told them when she was driving up Newmarket Street in Kells there was a man shouting in the middle of the road with a large knife.

She saw the man run towards her and heard a thud on the car before she could do a U-turn and drive away. She then saw him at the top of the road shouting “prostitutes” and later found he caused €500 worth of damage to her car.

Following this incident, when a couple were coming home, the accused approached them before punching them in the face twice.

The male victim’s partner ran to her home looking for help and Mr Rodgers followed and assaulted her outside the front of the house. Members of her family came out to stop him, including her mother who was punched in the face while the accused attempted to enter the home.

Gardai later observed Mr Rodgers on Church Street standing topless outside the front door of a house acting aggressively and he was soon arrested. One of the residents of the home was seen injured and an ambulance was called, with three residents being sent to hospital.

One person required four stitches on his lip and according to the victim’s impact statement it left a painful scar.

The mother said in her victim impact statement the psychological trauma is “immeasurable” and she fears for her daughter’s safety. She said her home feels unsafe now and the injury on her face has left irradiating pain in her head.

Another victim said this was the first time she experienced such violence and she now suffers from nightmares with her sense of security shattered.

The accused was brought to Kells Garda station and was deemed unfit to interview until later that morning. He admitted ownership of the knife and admitted guilt when shown CCTV of what occurred. The court heard on the night he consumed alcohol and the defence argued the mix of this and his medication led to him acting this way. He later pleaded guilty in the courts at an early stage.

When the defending barrister for Mr Rodgers, BL David Staunton, asked Garda Smith about his behaviour following this incident and the court heard he was polite and seemed remorseful for his actions.

BL Staunton told the court this is not typical drunken type of behaviour and this incident may have occurred after taking his medication. The defending barrister said his client is “back on the right track” 18 months after the incident and he is unlikely to be in court again if he stays away from alcohol.

€10,000 was brought to court by the accused to cover the damage to the car and as a token of remorse for the three victims of his assaults.

Judge John Martin said Mr Rodger’s conduct was outrageous “whatever the explanation for it”. He said if the accused knew the side effects of his medication were that he should abstain from alcohol and “no person is entitled to drink themselves into such a state where they are a danger to others or a danger to themselves”.

The judge said Mr Rodger’s was “quite literally off his head” and it was fortunate he dropped his knife before assaulting the couple.

The judge said a two year prison sentence was warranted but put back the case to 20th October. This is to consider community service and assistance in regards to alcohol addiction services and anger management courses. He also said an additional €5,500 should be brought to court where €5,000 is given to each victim and the €500 for the criminal damage is paid for.