A BENCH warrant has been issued for the sentencing of a man found carrying a knife in Letterkenny.
Dilaver Elahi (27) initially told Gardaí that he had the knife for his ‘own protection’ on August 14, 2020.
Elahi subsequently changed his story to Gardai.
Sgt Gerard Dalton told Letterkenny District Court, where Elahi was due to appear, that the accused also told Gardai that he had the knife for the purpose of cutting vegetables. Elahi then told officers that he was lending the knife to a friend.
Elahi was searched after being spotted acting suspiciously at Castlebane, Letterkenny. In a backpack which he was carrying, Gardaí located the kitchen knife, which was seized.
“Gardai were not satisfied that he had a genuine reason for having it,” Sgt Dalton said.
Elahi did not appear for hearing at Letterkenny District Court and had no legal representative acting on his behalf.
The court heard that an existing bench warrant is in existence for Elahi, who has seven previous convictions.
In Elahi’s absence, Judge Deirdre Gearty convicted him under Section 9.1 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990. A bench warrant was issued for sentencing.