A MAN armed with a knife who chased his pregnant partner, her child and her sister had drank Romanian homemade poitín, a court heard.

Alberta Stagna of 17 Brogan Court, Kilbrogan Hill, Bandon pleaded guilty to the possession of a knife on July 6th last, contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990.

Sgt Eimear O’Connell told Judge Joanne Carroll that the accused’s partner attended Bandon Garda Station alleging that her partner chased her, her young child and her sister outside their apartment with a knife.

‘He made a threat to kill her and CCTV shows him running with a knife after them, which was later retrieved by gardaí,’ said Sgt O’Connell.

She said the victim later withdrew her garda statement but the file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The court heard that Stagna has one previous conviction for no driver’s licence.

Sgt O’Connell said the accused and his partner are still living together and that she has had a child since the date of the incident.

CCTV footage of the incident was shown to Judge Carroll who said she wanted to see the ferocity of it.

‘This is a man chasing a pregnant woman who is eight weeks or less from delivery,’ noted the judge. Defence solicitor Myra Dinneen said her client, who is working full-time, had consumed drink after attending a friend’s barbecue earlier that day.

‘He doesn’t normally drink and he drank a form of homemade Romanian poitín which didn’t suit him. He has little or no memory of the incident,’ said Ms Dinneen.

Judge Carroll noted the accused has complied with bail conditions imposed on him since the incident including remaining alcohol free, obeying a curfew and signing on at Bandon Garda Station.

She directed the preparation of a probation report and remanded him on continuing bail to April 17th. Judge Carroll also requested a victim impact statement from the injured party if she chooses to make one.