Courts / Wicklow / Report

Jail for 'reprehensible' threats to kill gardai and their families

Date
2022-06-22

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Bray

County
Wicklow

Summary

Gary O'Brien, 24, of Old Connaught View, Bray, was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment for threatening to kill Gardaí and their families and for damaging a Garda car. The offences occurred on 21 September 2021 at Shanganagh Park and Shankill. Garda Matthew Firran reported that O'Brien was seen behind a car, threw an object over a wall, and later became abusive, threatening to follow Gardaí home and kill them and their families. He also threw an object at a Garda car, damaging a window. O'Brien was taken to Dun Laoghaire Garda Station, deemed intoxicated, and later claimed he was playing hurling. He pleaded guilty to two charges of threatening to kill or cause serious harm and to criminal damage. Judge Martin Nolan, noting O'Brien's 74 prior convictions and his "reprehensible" behaviour, imposed the 14‑month term, back‑dated to his entry into custody, taking the criminal damage charge into account.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail for 'reprehensible' threats to kill gardai and their families. Charges or matters: two charges of threatening to kill or cause serious harm at Shanganagh Park, Shankill on September 21, 2021; causing damage to a garda car on the same date, during a sitting of Dublin Circuit Court on Tuesday. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

September 21, 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
September 29, 2021 Other
2022-06-22 Publication

Case subjects

Gary O'Brien

Defendant

Charges: two charges of threatening to kill or cause serious harm at Shanganagh Park, Shankill on September 21, 2021; causing damage to a garda car on the same date, during a sitting of Dublin Circuit Court on Tuesday (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty