Courts / Dublin / Report

'Now I know you're a garda, you're cooked': jail for man who threatened garda at his home

Date
2023-03-07

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Donabate

County
Dublin

Summary

Charlie Cunningham, 24, of Kellys Bay Heights, Skerries, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for demanding money with menace at a garda's home in Donabate on 1 January 2021. He knocked on the door at 4.30 pm, asked for a specific person, and when the homeowner – who identified himself as Garda Sean McIllroy – denied the request, Cunningham returned and repeated the demand. He threatened that a group of men would break doors and windows and, after leaving, told the homeowner, "Now I know you're a garda, you're cooked". The homeowner followed him to the road, saw a group of six or seven men, and called the gardai. Cunningham pleaded guilty, cooperated with investigators, and apologized. He has eight prior convictions, including assault causing harm. Judge Martin Nolan noted the seriousness of the offence and the lack of sufficient mitigation to avoid custodial punishment, and imposed the two‑year sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Now I know you're a garda, you're cooked': jail for man who threatened garda at his home. Charges or matters: demanding money with menace at an address in Donabate on January 1, 2021. Procedural stage: sentence

When: