Derry Man arrested with two samurai swords and a knife remanded in custody

A martial arts expert who told the police he “had the urge to hurt people” has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrates’ Court.
Shane O’Kane, 39, from Bleach Green, Dungiven, County Derry, was arrested when he armed himself with two samurai swords and a knife.
The court was told that police received a call from O’Kane who said he had two swords and was afraid he might hurt someone. He told police he had started new medication.
Police attended and when the defendant saw them he drew one of the swords.
He was asked to drop the sword and he pointed it towards police who drew their firearms. He told police he did not want to hurt anyone but wanted police to shoot him. Eventually he left one sword down but then drew the other but was persuaded to leave that down.
When police approached he told them that he had a knife down his sock. When police attended his home address his partner told them O’Kane had threatened to kill her with the swords but she did not want to press charges.
When interviewed O’Kane denied threatening is partner.
Police opposed bail saying that O’Kane had ‘a propensity for violence’ and added that social services felt he posed a ‘grave threat.’
Defence solicitor Ms Cathy Grant said that O’Kane had recently been prescribed new medication.
She said he had been drinking with his partner and after she went to bed he took the swords and went out to Main Street.
District Judge Barney McElholm said that he was not prepared to let O’Kane return to Dungiven to wander about with Samurai swords ‘to the extent police had to draw their firearms.’
He said if there was an institution where he could send O’Kane for treatment he would but as there wasn’t he remanded him in custody to appear again on July 25.