Found with knives

Gareth Waring Jones (20), of Chestnut Manor, Waringstown, along with co-defendant Ryan Geoffrey Lawson (30), of Drumard Avenue, Portadown, was stopped and searched by police in Mourne Road, Lurgan, on February 6.

Lawson had thrown one knife into an adjacent garden but still had two more in his pocket.

Defending solicitor Richard Monteith said the pair were both highly intoxicated and when stopped by police had “the entirety of the kitchen knife block between them”.

He added, “The knives came from a house they had just left, where they were attending a party. Earlier in the evening, a group of their friends had an encounter with another group from the same estate.”

The solicitor added that the disagreements had surfaced again at the party.

Judge John Rice said carrying knives was a serious offence and sentenced each of the defendants to 100 hours’ community service. He warned, “Any breaches and you are likely to end up in Maghaberry Prison.”