Romanian man (28) remanded in custody following Carrick knife-wielding incident

Gardaí aware of footage circulating on social media

A 28-YEAR-OLD man, arrested following a knife-wielding incident in Carrickmacross on Sunday evening, has been remanded in custody.

David Covaciu, of Romanian nationality, whose address was given as Ardee Road, Magheross, Carrickmacross, appeared before Monaghan District Court today (Monday) on charges relating to alleged possession of an article contrary the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.

He is accused of being in possession of a flick knife, and possessing a knife with a blade sharply pointed while at Main Street, Carrickmacross, on Sunday evening, April 27, 2025.

Mr Covaciu is also charged under the Public Order Act with engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour arising from the same alleged incident, footage of which has been widely circulated on social media

He was refused bail by Judge Raymond Finnegan and remanded in custody to appear at Cavan District Court this Thursday, May 1.

Garda Barry Sheehy said bail was being objected to on grounds of the seriousness of the charges, and noted that there would be eye-witness accounts and video footage. He said the incident happened on Main Street, Carrickmacross, in broad daylight and could have caused considerable distress to people in the area.

Gda Sheehy also stated that the defendant was caught red-handed, that the charges could entail a five-year prison sentence.

Solicitor Roisin Courtney said her client was living in the area for eight to nine years and had worked at farming up until recently when he became unemployed. His explanation for the knife had been that he was carrying if for “his own protection”.

He was also “very drunk” and didn’t even remember the incident, Ms Courtney added.

Acceding to Inspector Damian Martin’s request to refuse bail, Judge Finnegan remanded Covaciu to appear by video link at Cavan District Court for DPP directions on Thursday.

The judge also assigned Ms Courtney to the case and certified for a Romanian interpreter.