Courts / Kerry / Report
Jail for man who repeatedly punched and threatened to 'slice up' woman in her own home
Summary
A 43‑year‑old man, Neilus Cooney, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for repeatedly punching a woman in her own home and threatening to slice and kill her. He also threatened to kill two Gardaí who came to the woman's aid after she fled and called for help. Cooney, who was armed with scissors, threatened a Sergeant from the Emergency Response Unit and claimed to have a firearm. He pleaded guilty to assault, causing harm, and threatening to kill the woman and a Garda. The judge imposed a headline sentence of four years, reduced to three years with six months suspended, and ordered him to keep the peace, undergo probation supervision for one year, and attend addiction services. The court noted his significant medical issues, remorse, and early plea as mitigating factors. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for man who repeatedly punched and threatened to 'slice up' woman in her own home. Charges or matters: assaulting the woman, causing her harm and also threatening to kill her at her apartment in Grattan Wood, Balbriggan, Dublin 13 on August 9, 2022. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 9, 2022 Other
- 2023-11-02 Publication
Why: The judge said a "chilling feature" of Cooney's "extraordinarily threatening behaviour" was that his threats to cut up and slice the victims were credible because he was wielding scissors at the time. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assaulting the woman, causing her harm and also threatening to kill her at her apartment in Grattan Wood, Balbriggan, Dublin 13 on August 9, 2022 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She sentenced him to three years in prison with the final six months suspended. She also ordered that Cooney keep the peace and undergo probation supervision for one year on his release and attend such addiction services as prescribed by probation.
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