Sword was so sharp it could cut a melon

Londonderry Magistrates court was told that on Monday last police were called to Rosskeen Park after a social worker reported a man had turned up at the house of the injured party with the sword and made threats against her.

The man with the sword was identified as Jordan Maguire (19), of Farland Way and police went to his house and arrested him on suspicion of possessing the weapon and making a threat to kill.

During a search of the house police found the 3.5 feel long sword in a cupboard under the stairs. It belonged to another resident in the house who had used it for martial arts.

The court heard the alleged injured party had an ongoing dispute with her daughter, who is the defendant’s girlfriend, about money. Following a verbal spat earlier in the day Maguire had gone to the house and was seen with the sword in one hand and sheath in the other.

Maguire was alleged to have called the women names and said he would “half them in two”.

The owner of the sword told police he kept it in the cupboard under the stairs and it was “sharp enough to cut through a melon” and was a “lethal weapon”.

During another interview Maguire told police he had lost the plot and admitted to having the sword in public, but did not unsheathe it.

Police opposed bail and on hearing the evidence, Maguire was remanded in custody until August 13.