Courts / Dublin / Report
Man armed himself with a crossbow and barricaded himself and child in house in stand-off with gardai
Summary
Daniel O'Neill, 21, was sentenced to six months in prison after a three‑hour stand‑off with Gardaí in which he armed himself with a cross‑bow and two bows, barricaded himself and his 18‑month‑old child inside a house, and threatened to kill. The incident followed a domestic dispute with his partner, who had requested Gardaí to retrieve the child from the house. O'Neill pleaded guilty to possession of a cross‑bow, threatening to kill, causing criminal damage to a superintendent's car on 2 May, and violent behaviour at Balbriggan Garda Station. He had six prior convictions and spent two months in Cloverhill awaiting High Court bail. The court found no psychiatric evidence and directed O'Neill to receive psychiatric treatment while in custody, though his solicitor argued the services were ineffective. The sentence was fixed for potential appeal.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man armed himself with a crossbow and barricaded himself and child in house in stand-off with gardai. Charges or matters: the production of a cross-bow and two bows, threatening to kill and causing criminal damage to a superintendent's car on May 2nd; violent behaviour at Balbriggan Garda Station. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 2nd Hearing Or Sentence
- 2014-08-02 Publication
Why: ' 'This court will direct that but it won't happen because sadly, I have to say, the Mental Health Services is a joke,' said Mr Hennessy. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the production of a cross-bow and two bows, threatening to kill and causing criminal damage to a superintendent's car on May 2nd; violent behaviour at Balbriggan Garda Station (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Now he is back on a waiting list as he could not contact the Mental Health Services while he was in custody,' explained Mr Hennessy. 'He is a man who has difficulties and needs help and I ask the court not to go down the route of a custodial sentence.' Judge Dermot Dempsey said he had no psychiatric report in front of him and he was not satisfied that O'Neill should be at liberty, he said he could see no way around custody convicted and sentenced him to six months in prison.
Places mentioned
- Moylara House
- Balbriggan
- Balbriggan District Court
- High Court
- violent behaviour at Balbriggan Garda Station
- Balbriggan
Topics
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