A knife-wielding man has avoided being sent to prison after he was convicted at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday.

Ryan Irvine (35), of Gola Road, Enniskillen, was convicted of possession of an article with a blade/point in a public place concerning an incident on March 26.

The court heard that on the day in question, police received a report from members of the public that a man, identified as Irvine, was in the Deer Park area of Enniskillen with a large knife.

When police arrived they spoke with some of those who observed Irvine, and he was located inside a nearby property.

Irvine came to the front of the house with the knife. He was asked to drop the knife but declined, but some time later, following negotiations, he dropped the knife out of a window of the house.

He was then taken to the South West Acute Hospital for a mental health assessment before being taken to Omagh Police Station.

Irvine was also appearing to face a charge of breaching a non-molestation order on dates between May 5 and May 8 of this year.

The court heard the injured party had been in The Crowes Nest, as was Irvine when he began sending unwanted texts and making phone calls.

This continued for a time while he also got a third party to send the injured party a message over Facebook Messenger.

His solicitor, Gary Black, told the court Irvine was due credit for admission to the possession of the knife, while concerning the breach of the non-molestation order, he said the texts were more in the “pestering category” rather than malicious.

He said it was a “chance encounter” in a bar, and pointed out Irvine had spoken to and shaken the hand of the injured party’s new partner, and texted the injured party saying there were “no hard feelings” and her new partner was “really nice”.

Deputy District Judge Austin Kennedy told Irvine both charges were “very serious offences”, and said the only thing that was saving him from custody for possession of the knife was his clear criminal record.

Instead, he was handed a three-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

For the breach of the non-molestation order, Irvine was ordered to complete a one-year probation order, and given a one-year restraining order.