Ballymena man who said he had knife to clean his fingernails receives suspended jail term
A man convicted of having a lock-knife in his possession without good reason or lawful authority in a public place - the Ballyclug Mews area of Ballymena - told police he was using it to clean his fingernails.
John Wilson Rainey (54), of St Patrick's Avenue in the town, said he also used the knife for fishing. He was spoken to by police on the afternoon of September 25 last year.
The charge was contested. The defendant said he had the knife for a lawful purpose. He told the court: "I was picking at my nails at the time."
He said he had been in his then flat and was getting ready to go fishing and his dog had got out and he had gone out after it and he was then talking to a man.
The knife was in his pocket when police pulled up. "I do a lot of fishing" on the River Braid, he said.
He told the court he did not tell the police he used the knife for fishing as "they never asked me". The defendant added: "I wouldn't swear on the Bible and then tell lies."
District Judge Nigel Broderick said: "I don't believe he had good reason or lawful authority to have this knife in his possession. It is a lock-knife.
"If he wanted to clean his nails he could have used a much more suitable device. This was a three-inch blade lock knife and I convict him."
The defendant had a record. The case had been adjourned for a pre-sentence report and now the defendant has received a four months prison term, suspended for a year.