Courts / Dublin / Report

Hoax call made about pub shooting to divert gardai

Date
2019-11-22

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In November 2019, Brian Johnston, a 32‑year‑old with 205 prior convictions, was jailed for 15 months after making a hoax 999 call claiming a shooting at a pub on Cappagh Road, Finglas. The call diverted Gardaí, an armed support unit, two fire brigade vehicles and an ambulance from an attempt to remove him from his ex‑partner's home. Johnston had been released from prison shortly before the incident and was homeless, living in a car that was seized. He pleaded guilty to the false report, to stealing a car battery, to producing a hammer while appearing to commit an offence, and to driving without a licence or insurance. Judge Martin Nolan described the act as a "reprehensible crime of desperation" and imposed concurrent sentences totalling 15 months. The case involved the Gardaí's attempt to breach the property, the diversion caused by the hoax call, and the subsequent arrest of Johnston at 4 a.m.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Hoax call made about pub shooting to divert gardai. Charges or matters: making a false report at a property on Cappagh Road, Finglas on June 20, 2017; stealing a car battery, producing a hammer while appearing to be about to commit an offence, as well as driving without a licence or insurance at Baldoyle on September 25, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

June 20, 2017 Incident
September 25, 2018 Incident
September 2018 Other
2019-11-22 Publication

Why: A man who made a hoax 999 call to say there had been a shooting at a pub in order to divert gardai who were trying to remove him from his ex-partner's home has been jailed for 15 months. CNI source report

Case subjects

Brian Johnston

Defendant

Charges: making a false report at a property on Cappagh Road, Finglas on June 20, 2017; stealing a car battery, producing a hammer while appearing to be about to commit an offence, as well as driving without a licence or insurance at Baldoyle on September 25, 2018 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Nolan imposed concurrent sentences totalling 15 months.