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Family threatened and harassed over son's 'purported drug debt'
Summary
Ben O'Leary, 20, of Balinteer Gardens, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for harassment and making an unwarranted demand for cash. The defendant pleaded guilty to harassment occurring between December 2018 and January 2019 and admitted to making an unwarranted demand for cash on December 11, 2018. The court heard that O'Leary allegedly demanded €6,000 from a family in Templeogue, Dublin, claiming their son owed him money related to a purported drug debt. He allegedly threatened the family, including warnings about property damage and advising them not to contact gardaí. On one occasion, a second man in a vehicle with O'Leary allegedly threatened the mother, stating her son would be killed. Judge Melanie Greally noted that while O'Leary was not the individual who issued the specific threat to the mother, he was part of the enterprise. The judge acknowledged O'Leary's efforts to address his cocaine addiction since his arrest in March 2019. Judge Greally sentenced O'Leary to three years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended. Additionally, the court ordered that O'Leary have no contact with the injured parties or their family for seven years.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Family threatened and harassed over son's 'purported drug debt'. Charges or matters: harassment between December 2018 and January 2019. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 11, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2019 Incident
- December 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2020-10-07 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: harassment between December 2018 and January 2019 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She sentenced O'Leary to three years in prison with the final 18 months suspended and ordered that he have no contact with the injured parties or their family for seven years.
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