Man fined €400 in Kerry for threatening to put a bullet in bus driver’s head
The KerrymanMichael Harty (46) of 15 Lisheen Park, Patrickswell, Co Limerick was fined €400 after threatening to kill a bus driver when refused entry onto a bus.
Mr Harty pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting language in a public place at Tralee District Court on Monday.
The court heard that on November 7, 2024, a bus driver refused Mr Harty entry onto a bus at the Killarney Bus Station due to a previous interaction.
Mr Harty then threatened to “put a bullet” into the bus driver’s head, Inspector Gary Carroll told the court.
As the facts were read to the court, Judge David Waters observed Mr Harty in the gallery shaking his head.
“He’s shaking his head as if he doesn’t agree,” said the judge. “I don’t know if it’s at himself.” He questioned whether Mr Harty was shaking his head at his own behaviour or the allegations before the court.
His solicitor Padraig O’Connell said there was no intention behind the words.
“He spoke out of turn,” said the solicitor. “The words he uttered, he did not mean.”
Mr O’Connell noted there was a belief his client had “previously urinated on the bus”, which “had aggravated the situation”.