Courts / Dublin / Report
Gardai attacked and threatened by man armed with hatchet, knives
Summary
Michael O'Leary, aged 41, was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for a series of violent incidents involving Gardaí. In March 2019 he attacked a patrol car with a hurl, smashed windows, and struck a detective in the hip. He pleaded guilty to criminal damage and obstructing a peace officer. In April 2020 he returned armed with a hatchet and kitchen knife, threatened to kill Gardaí, and threw a hatchet at a garda's head, smashing a car window. He pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a garda and endangerment. The court noted his recent widowhood and struggles with alcohol and prescription drugs. Judge Martin Nolan described his conduct as violent, aggressive and threatening, and warned that re‑offending would lead to further imprisonment. The sentence was back‑dated to his 2020 arrest. The judge emphasised that the incidents were a one‑off, but the court remained cautious.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Gardai attacked and threatened by man armed with hatchet, knives. Charges or matters: one count of criminal damage and one count of obstructing a peace officer outside his home at Mourne View, Skerries, Co Dublin, on March 6, 2019; one count of threatening to kill a garda and one count of endangerment at the same location on April 8, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 6, 2019 Incident
- April 8, 2020 Incident
- April 2020 Incident
- 2019 and 2020 Incident
- 2022-02-14 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of criminal damage and one count of obstructing a peace officer outside his home at Mourne View, Skerries, Co Dublin, on March 6, 2019; one count of threatening to kill a garda and one count of endangerment at the same location on April 8, 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He handed down a two-and-a-half year sentence and backdated it to when O'Leary went into custody in 2020.
Places mentioned
- O'Leary's house
- going to burn the garda station
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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