Homeless man jailed for possession of knives and drugs at ATM in Kilkenny city

A homeless man has received a prison sentence after he was caught carrying two knives and drugs at an ATM in Kilkenny.

At Kilkenny District Court, Artjoms Dulenkvos (28) of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two counts of the possession of a knife, one count of public order and one count of the possession of drugs.

Sergeant Morgan O’Connor told the court that on May 7, 2025 Mr Dulenkvos was observed acting suspiciously at an ATM on High Street in Kilkenny city.

When questioned by a member of An Garda Síochána, the accused said he was withdrawing money for a friend, whose couch he was sleeping on.

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Mr Dulenkvos was subsequently searched by the garda and found to be in possession of 19 Alprazolam tablets, a bread knife and a flick knife.

He was also charged with a public order offence, arising from an incident that occurred at the Skate Park Garden, Abbey Quarter, Kilkenny on May 29, last.

The accused has seven previous convictions, including one for a similar offence relating to possession of drugs in 2024.

Solicitor Ed Hughes, representing the accused, said his client has been homeless for a significant period but that his personal circumstances have improved in recent weeks.

He said that Mr Dulenkvos previously worked in construction and as a painter but addiction issues had “come to the fore” in recent years.

Mr Hughes added that the accused has struggled since his family abandoned him at the age of 18.

However, he said that Mr Dulenkvos has been doing “much better” in recent months and is “hopeful for the future”.

He asked Judge Geraldine Carthy to use the “carrot and stick approach” when it comes to sentencing.

Sgt O’Connor noted that the accused received a nine-month suspended sentence for a burglary and theft matter in 2024 and said that the charge before the court was a "triggering" offence.

Judge Carthy noted Mr Dulenkvos’ personal circumstances, but said that it was a “very serious” offence which had occurred during his suspended sentence.

She said the level of knife crime in Ireland had increased in recent years, adding: “If someone has a knife, you don’t know where it might end up.”

After formally convicting Mr Dulenkvos’, Judge Carthy sentenced him to seven months' imprisonment for the possession of the knives.

The drugs offence was marked as taken into consideration.