Garda praised for his bravery in confronting a man waving what appeared to be a firearm

By Fiona Ferguson

A garda has been praised for his bravery in confronting a man waving what appeared to be firearm.

Garda Ciaran Harford was on duty in Dublin city centre when he saw distressed members of the public running towards Middle Abbey Street. They told him a man was waving a gun nearby.

Artiom Cerenkov (35) pointed the firearm at Gda Harford before he restrained him and secured it.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that members of the armed support unit were quickly on the scene and able to confirm the item seized was an imitation firearm.

Cerenkov of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to possession of a realistic imitation firearm at Abbey Street, on June 25, 2018.

Gda Harford told Diana Stuart BL, prosecuting, that he saw distressed members of the public running from middle Abbey Street and one stopped to ask for assistance, telling him they had observed a man with a gun in his hand.

They were unsure if it was a real gun or not.

Gda Harford saw the accused sitting at a junction waving what appeared to be a firearm.

He asked the man to drop what he was holding but he pointed it at Gda Harford.

Gda Harford identified himself as a garda and the man attempted to hide the item.

The garda advanced to close the distance between them and pinned Cerenkov’s arm to his chest to minimise the harm he could do.

He grappled with Cerenkov and removed the item before arresting him.

Colleagues from the armed support unit secured the firearm and revealed it was an imitation.

Cerenkov, who has 26 previous convictions mainly for shoplifting, was extremely intoxicated.

The garda agreed with Aoife O’Leary BL, defending, that they quickly established it was not real and Cerenkov presented no difficulties at the station.

Ms O’Leary said Cerenkov was someone with alcohol difficulties who had been homeless for a time. She said he has made significant effort to rehabilitate and had completed the first stage of detox.

Counsel said Cerenkov accepts the garda’s account and apologises for what he did.

She said his last previous conviction was in 2015 and he had done his best since then.

Judge Martin Nolan said Cerenkov had been very drunk and was waving a firearm causing consternation and fear, even as the garda approached. He noted Cerenkov had terrified members of the public.

The judge said he wanted to applaud the garda for the way he behaved, saying it was very brave and sensible.

He noted Cerenkov’s guilty plea and that he now seemed to be doing better, that he was now being helped and treated. He noted defence counsel had asked for Cerenkov to be given a chance.

As Judge Nolan said he agreed the accused deserves a chance, Cerenkov’s phone began ringing audibly and the judge remarked “he nearly lost it before he got it.”

Judge Nolan sentenced Cerenkov to two and a half years which he suspended in full.