Munster Express Online

Confusion reigned supreme in Carrick-on-Suir District Court on Thursday last, after a Polish-native mistook the English word ‘cabbage’ for ‘mushrooms’ when found to be in the possession of a knife in a public place.
Mr Andrzej Milek, of Apartment 2, 10 O’Connell Street, Waterford City, was seen “in an intoxicated state” by Sergeant Ian Barrett in Cregg Lawns, Carrick-on-Suir, on October 26th last.
The court heard that several fresh wounds on Mr Milek’s face prompted a full body search, revealing a knife in his possession – an object he initially said was used for collecting wild mushrooms.
Speaking on behalf of Mr Milek, Solicitor Eamonn Hayes stated that “the knife was not visible, nor was it brandished.”
Mr Hayes went onto say that his client was “visiting family when an incident took place, resulting in Mr. Milek sustaining several cuts to the face.”
He then told the court that the purpose of the knife “was simply lost in translation.” Rather, the defendant “had the knife on his possession to cut wild cabbage, which he intended to use in the treatment of wounds he sustained earlier in the day”, rubbishing in-court suggestions that Mr Milek was searching for mushrooms of the magic variety.
Foregoing the defendant’s motive, Judge Terence Finn fined Mr. Milek €250 under Section 9 of the offensive Weapons Act with four months to pay.