Castlebar man threatened to kill friend with a hammer
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
A man headbutted a former school friend and threatened to kill him with a hammer.
Alex Masuku, aged 34, of Whitehorse Railway Tavern, Saleen, Castlebar, pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and production of an article.
The court was told that Gardaí responded to a report of an incident at an address at The Fairways in Castlebar at 1pm on November 21, 2023. Masuka had arrived at the home of Tosin Awodibu armed with a hammer. He forced his way inside the property and headbutted the injured party. He threatened Mr Awodibu with the hammer as the victim held his two-year-old daughter in his arms. Masuku was later arrested and the hammer recovered from his car.
State prosecutor Pat Reynolds said the defendant believed his now ex-girlfriend had been having an affair with the injured party. This was denied by his ex-girlfriend and the court heard Masuku may have had certain ‘delusions’. Masuku has no previous convictions.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Awodibu said he felt his freedom had been taken away from him and he grew paranoid after the incident. He was punched, elbowed, and headbutted and his child witnessed the entire ordeal. His daughter cried in her sleep for a week and the incident made him question if he could protect her.
“The one question I have is why did he do what he did?” said Mr Awodibu.
The court heard the defendant has lived in Ireland for 22 years having moved from South Africa as a boy. He and the victim went to secondary school and worked together for a period.
Judge Eoin Garavan said there an “appalling level of violence” involved. He expressed concern that Masuku may have been going through a "mini breakdown" at the time and noted the defendant’s sleep issues around the time of the offence.
The judge said he believed clinical intervention is required. Masuku was ordered to undertake the Men Overcoming Violence (MOVE) programme and counselling with a clinical psychologist.
The case was adjourned until October 14 for sentencing.
