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Man who threatened self immolation outside garda station given suspended sentence

Summary

Gareth Byrne, 32, was arrested after pouring petrol on himself outside Clontarf Garda Station and threatening to set himself and the station on fire. He had been stopped during a routine traffic check, his car seized for lack of proof of insurance, though it was later found to be insured. After the seizure, Byrne became irate, returned to the station, and declared he would burn it down. He bought petrol, returned, poured it on himself, and held a lighter above his head for about a minute before the gardaí persuaded him to drop it. He pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment. Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, ordered 240 hours of community service, and required 12 months of supervision by the Probation Service. Byrne has 41 prior convictions, including road traffic offences, drug possession and knife possession.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man who threatened self immolation outside garda station given suspended sentence. Charges or matters: reckless endangerment at Clontarf Garda Station on August 7, 2012. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• August 7, 2012 Other
• 2015-01-23 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report