A Dublin poet who went "berserk" and attacked his neighbours with a sword because he thought they were talking about him has to do 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two-year prison sentence.
Christopher Cox (48), author of A Crumlin Lad, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting his then neighbours Mr Paul O'Neill and Ms Lorraine Dowling on July 22nd, 2002, at North Frederick Street.
The court heard that Cox kicked in the door of his neighbours' flat in the early morning, wielding a sword. He "whipped" Mr O'Neill with the weapon several times, leaving red welts on his body.