Brendan Treacy gets suspended sentence for false report

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Brendan Treacy received a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for making a false report. Judge Martina Baxter suspended the sentence on a number of conditions. The proceedings were reported on 2 December 2019.

Treacy pleaded guilty to making a false report. The offence occurred at an unknown location in Dublin 1 on 23 August 2017.

Treacy reported that a gangland member had been shot at Peadar Kearney House on Railway Street, Dublin, and that a black Toyota Avensis had been seen leaving the area. Eleven garda units, a fire brigade truck and an ambulance attended, and emergency teams remained for 24 minutes before the operation was called off.

Judge Baxter said the diversion of garda resources was dangerous and wasted valuable time. She noted, however, that gardaí were satisfied Treacy had not been trying to test response times or divert them from a particular crime scene. She also commended his rehabilitation, noting that he had been free of heroin for two years and was helping others recover from addiction.

Treacy admitted making the call while he was on tablets and vodka. He told gardaí he did not know why he called, but said it could have been because he had taken 30 tablets and vodka and had been threatened with being shot earlier that day. He said he was deeply ashamed.