Driver with no licence found with two switchblade hunting knives

A DRIVER found with two switchblades in his car during a garda stop was fined at Tallaght District Court.

Leszek Leszczynski (57), with an address of Tuansgate apartments, Old Belgard Square, Tallaght, appeared before court charged with driving without a driving licence and having a blade in his vehicle at Main Street, Tallaght on October 10, 2023.

Two charges of driving without a driving licence on December 3, 2023, at Cookstown Way were withdrawn the court heard.

Garda Elaine Phelan told the court that gardai stopped a 08D BMW at approximately 10pm on the date in question on Main Street, where gardai got a “strong smell of cannabis” – during the course of the search two switchblade hunting knives were found by the driver’s pocket door.

Mr Leszczynski, who pleaded guilty to the charges, appeared with the aid of an interpreter.

The court heard he had two previous convictions for drug-related offences, the last of which was in 2021.

Defence solicitor Eddie O’Connor, said his client is from Poland, has been in Ireland for 17 years, and is a keen fisherman, hence the knives.

The court heard the defendant is currently separated, on disability and was co-operative with gardai.

Judge Patricia McNamara took into account personal circumstances and fined Mr Leszczynski €200 with four months to pay.

Funded by the Local Courts Scheme