Courts / Kildare / Report

Bench warrant issued for man (21) who threatened social worker with knife

Date
2022-07-14
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Newbridge
County
Kildare

Summary

In July 2022 the Court of Appeal issued a bench warrant for 21‑year‑old Jason Byrne of Newbridge, after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed a six‑month jail sentence imposed in June 2021 for threatening a social worker with a knife. Byrne had been convicted in October 2020 at Naas Circuit Criminal Court for producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury at a Tusla facility in September 2018, when he was 17. He pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990. Judge Mary O'Malley Costello sentenced him to 12 months' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended for nine months, during which he was to engage with probation services. The DPP argued the sentence did not adequately reflect the nature of the charge, the victim's effect, or Byrne's subsequent offending history, and that he was assessed as a high risk of reoffending.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Bench warrant issued for man (21) who threatened social worker with knife. Charges or matters: the offence, which is contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

Why: Presiding judge George Birmingham said the court would issue a bench warrant for Byrne and noted that his original trial had been delayed because Byrne went to Derby in the UK and had not been interviewed by gardaí until he was 18 years-old. CNI source report

Case subjects

Jason Byrne

Convicted Person

Charges: the offence, which is contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 (Proven)

Plea: Guilty

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Jason Byrne, who was sentenced to six months in jail in June of last year for the offence. Judge Mary O'Malley Costello sentenced Byrne to 12 months' imprisonment with the final six months suspended for nine months during which time he was to engage with probation services.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Naas
  • Naas Circuit Criminal Court

Topics

Stage Appeal

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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