Courts / Dublin / Report

Man who suffers illness due to Chernobyl radiation exposure avoids jail for pulling realistic imitation gun on motorist

Date
2017-05-12

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Rush

County
Dublin

Summary

Alesandrs Rodjukovs, 36, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to producing a realistic imitation firearm at Lower Main Street Rush on 7 March 2015. He pointed the gun at a motorist after driving aggressively behind him, causing the victim to fear he would be shot. Rodjukovs claimed fatigue from long work hours and a sleepless baby as the cause of his actions. The judge, Karen O'Connor, noted his illness from Chernobyl radiation exposure, a childhood car‑accident injury that killed his mother, and the death of three close relatives in recent months. She described the offence as a "once off incident" and, after hearing he would not re‑offend, imposed an 18‑month sentence suspended in full on strict conditions. Garda Gerard Maloney reported that a blank semi‑automatic pistol, recovered from Rodjukovs' car, was not capable of firing bullets. The pistol had been brought from Latvia. Rodjukovs cooperated with Gardaí and made full admissions.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man who suffers illness due to Chernobyl radiation exposure avoids jail for pulling realistic imitation gun on motorist. Charges or matters: producing a realistic firearm at Lower Main Street Rush on March 7, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 7, 2015 Incident
2017-05-12 Publication

Case subjects

Unnamed man

Defendant

Charges: producing a realistic firearm at Lower Main Street Rush on March 7, 2015 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: His father, who had been driving, was prosecuted and jailed. She said it appeared to be a "once off incident" and imposed an 18 month sentence which she suspended in full on strict conditions.