Courts / Dublin / Report

Mary Lou McDonald tells court of being left in fear after 'coward's threat' to shoot her and commissioner

Date
2025-03-26

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Richard McGreevy, 29, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of making a threat to kill or cause harm. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a prison sentence of three and a half years, with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions. The court heard that McGreevy posted videos on TikTok in July last, in which he allegedly threatened Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Although the judge found no intention to carry out the threats, he described them as extreme and frightening. McGreevy's defence counsel described him as a lonely keyboard warrior acting from impulse, citing his mental health issues and remorse. Deputy McDonald, who was not present, read a victim impact statement stating she was left in fear by the threat but would not allow any bully to prevent her from doing her job. Commissioner Harris declined to provide a statement, noting his complaint captured the impact. Martin Lanigan, Deputy McDonald's husband, made the initial complaint. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Mary Lou McDonald tells court of being left in fear after 'coward's threat' to shoot her and commissioner. Charges or matters: two counts of making a threat to kill or cause harm. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

July 16 Hearing Or Sentence
July 18 Incident
July 26 Other
2025-03-26 Publication

Case subjects

Martin Lanigan

Applicant

Mary Lou McDonald

Defendant

Charges: two counts of making a threat to kill or cause harm (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Deputy McDonald made the comments in a victim impact statement read to the court during the sentence hearing of Richard McGreevy (29), who was described by his defence counsel as a "lonely keyboard warrior".

Richard McGreevy

Defendant

Charges: two counts of making a threat to kill or cause harm (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: McGreevy was today handed a prison sentence of three and a half years, with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions. Having considered McGreevy's background and the mitigation, Judge Nolan imposed a three-and-a-half year prison sentence, with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions.