'Mexican stand-off' in Ahoghill involved men with a Samurai sword and an 'axe', Ballymena court hears

Details were given to Ballymena Magistrates' Court where 34-year-old Gary Agnew, with an address listed as Main Street in Ahoghill, admitted possessing a Samurai sword as an offensive weapon.

The court was told that at 2.45pm on August 23 this year, police received a report of the defendant "running around" the back of apartments with a one-metre long sword.

When police attended the scene, the defendant was in an apartment and although he initially refused to open the door he eventually did.

The court heard that police got the defendant "under control" and found a sword lying on a kitchen floor in its sheath.

When interviewed, the defendant said he had been drinking with a friend and that they had "fallen out". He told police he had "been an idiot" and brought the sword out. He claimed the friend had an "axe".

The defendant said they had "shouted at each other for a period of time", the court heard.

A defence barrister told the court that the "oriental Samurai sword" was given to the defendant by his grandfather.

He said the there had been a fall-out in respect of "£100" the defendant had given to a friend who had "prevaricated" in giving him the money back. The defendant then spotted his friend making an "online bet" which is what "started the argument".

The barrister alleged that when leaving, the friend said "I am going to sort you" and when the defendant saw the friend come back with an "axe" he took the Samurai sword out.

The lawyer said it was an enclosed area behind the apartments and there was a "Mexican stand-off fuelled by drink".

District Judge Nigel Broderick remarked that an incident involving drunk men and a Samurai sword and, allegedly an axe, "could easily have ended up in a serous injury if not a fatality".

The defendant was given a Combination Order of 75 hours of Community Service and Probation for one year.