Derry Court: Court told man brandished a knife in attempted suicide-by-police

Derry Magistrate's Court heard today how a man was believed to be trying to get police officers to shoot him by brandishing a knife. 

David James Duff (43) of no fixed abode was charged with possessing a knife on June 2 and possessing Pregablin tablets on the same date.

The court heard that police were called to a report of man with a knife in his possession at around 2pm. 

He was apparently threatening to commit suicide by attacking police and getting them to shoot him. 

When police arrived the defendant was holding a large knife and a bottle of alcohol. 

Duff refused to drop the knife when ordered to do so and after he stumbled police were able to strike him with a baton. 

The defendant tried to run away and threw the knife into bushes before being subdued by police. 

Three Pregablin tablets were found on the defendant. 

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said his client 'struggled' with issues for most of his life.

He said that the defendant had no intention of hurting anyone else apart from himself describing the incident as 'a serious mental health incident.'

The solicitor said that Duff had 47 previous convictions with the bulk of them occurring over the past three years. 

District Judge Oonagh Mullen said that the accused had issues he needed to address. 

She sentenced him to 8 months in prison suspended for 3 years.