Courts / Dublin / Report
Dublin man engaged armed gardai with toy gun hoping they would shoot him, court hears
Summary
In a stand‑off lasting about an hour and a half, 44‑year‑old Darren Byrne of Tallaght waved a toy handgun from his front bedroom window, threatening to shoot anyone who approached. Byrne, who had been drinking a two‑litre bottle of vodka and taking drugs, called 999 and claimed he had a gun and would have a shoot‑out with gardaí. The officers, all armed, took cover and called in the Emergency Response Unit, which entered the house and arrested Byrne after he dropped the toy gun. Byrne's elderly parents were downstairs during the incident. He pleaded guilty to making threats to kill or cause serious harm to three gardaí and to making a false report. The court noted Byrne's remorse and personal circumstances, but Judge Martin Nolan remanded him on bail, stating he would consider a prison sentence the following day. The case carries a maximum term of ten years in prison.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Dublin man engaged armed gardai with toy gun hoping they would shoot him, court hears. Charges or matters: making threats to kill or cause serious harm to three gardaí at his home on August 1, 2013. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 1, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2014-12-09 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: making threats to kill or cause serious harm to three gardaí at his home on August 1, 2013 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He remanded Byrne on bail but said this does not indicate that he will not impose a prison sentence. She accepted it was a very serious case but asked Judge Nolan not to impose a custodial sentence given Byrne's personal circumstances.; He remanded Byrne on bail but said this does not indicate that he will not impose a prison sentence.
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request