‘You’re going to be blown out of it’ – Louth man invaded woman’s home armed with a hatchet

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

A man who “invaded” and damaged a neighbour’s home while armed with a hatchet has been jailed for two years and 3 months.

When gardaí investigated another incident the following day involving the same victim they discovered that her attacker was growing cannabis plants in his house.

Conor Kennedy (32), St Laurence’s Park, Drogheda, pleaded guilty to production of an article during a dispute and to cultivation of cannabis when he appeared in custody for a sentence hearing at Dundalk Circuit Court.

The defendant has 42 previous convictions, including for burglary, robbery and possession of firearms and ammunition, though mostly for Road Traffic matters.

Sgt Leonard Clarke said that on September 19, 2022, the victim had a conversation with Mr Kennedy’s partner who lived nearby.

She was later inside her house when the door was kicked open. She was sitting on a sofa terrified.

The defendant had his hood up, the strings pulled tight, but she knew him.

He used a hatchet to smash the glass in the living room door. He ran off, telling her that he would be back.

The next day she was walking when Mr Kennedy came out of his house and followed her. He asked, “Where are your guards?” adding, “You’re going to be blown out of it.”

He called her a “crack head” and when she replied he was a junkie, he hit or on the shoulder with one of his crutches.

Gardaí found 3 cannabis plants growing in the defendant’s attic. Foil and light was applied to them.

He was arrested during the search and denied any of the offences against the woman.

However, the accused made full admissions about the drugs. He said they were for his epilepsy, and that he wasn’t going to pay drug dealers for cannabis.

In a Victim Impact Statement, the woman said that he kicked in her front door. He had a hatchet which he used to smash the glass in the living room door.

It was like reliving an abusive relationship she had been in.

The defendant called her a “rat” because she contacted gardaí. She had to leave Drogheda over it.

Barrister Stephen Faulkner, instructed by solicitor Fergal Boyle, said that his client was a father of three and in a relationship with the children’s mother.

He accepted that he should not have confronted the other woman. He wished to apologise.

Mr Kennedy instructed that the consumption of cannabis helped his epilepsy.

Judge Dara Hayes said that the woman’s home was invaded and damaged as the defendant held a hatchet over her in her own sitting room.

Concurrent terms of 3 years and 3 months and 2 years and 3 months were imposed, the final 12 months suspended, and backdated to August 11 last when the accused went into custody.

A Section 2 assault charge was taken into consideration.