A Dublin man who threatened his former partner has been sentenced to one year in prison.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the man phoned his ex-partner and issued a threat to kill her several hours after being informed that a serious allegation had been made against him, reports Breaking News.
Defence barrister Colm Hennessy BL said his client had been “very upset” by the allegation, which he explained to the court was “of a sexual nature towards a child”.
Paul Carroll SC, prosecuting, told the court that a disclosure had been made, though the case was later withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecutions after clarification, reports Breaking News.
The 26-yr-old man admitted to sending a menacing phone message in November 2022.
Evidence was presented that the man was detained in early November 2022 under outstanding warrants, during which time he first learned of the allegation, reports Breaking News.
He was brought to the Criminal Courts of Justice and granted bail. Several hours after becoming aware of the allegation, he made the threatening call to his former partner.
The woman informed gardaí that the man said he “was going to kill you, and your junkie boyfriend and slice your face”, reports Breaking News.
He used his brother’s girlfriend’s phone to make the call as he was leaving the courthouse.
His own phone had been taken by gardaí, the court heard, reports Breaking News.
The phone call lasted one minute and six seconds. The woman said she feared for her safety and her family’s. She and the couple’s child went to stay with relatives.
The man at first denied that he had made the call, reports Breaking News.
In a victim impact statement read in court, the woman said she is constantly afraid and experiences anxiety.
She said she continues to believe every word the man spoke. She added that she has not entered a new relationship since their breakup and does not intend to, as she remains “frightened for my life”, reports Breaking News.
The man has nine earlier convictions, including for drug offences, assault causing harm and obstruction.
He has not come to garda attention since the incident, has avoided all contact with the woman and complied fully with his bail terms, reports Breaking News.
The court heard the man is employed full-time and is now in a new relationship.
Mr Hennessy told the court his client had been under “considerable stress” when he made the threat and that “the red mist descended”, reports Breaking News.
He said his client accepts responsibility for his actions and asked the court to consider a non-custodial sentence.
When delivering sentence on Wednesday, Judge Martin Nolan noted that difficulties existed between the parties as a result of the allegation, reports Breaking News.
He said the court took “to some degree” the context of the offending into account, along with mitigation factors and the man’s personal circumstances.
“You cannot be threatening people that you are going to kill them or cause them serious harm”, Judge Nolan said, before imposing a one-year sentence, reports Breaking News.
The judge also ordered that the man receive credit for any time already served in connection with the case.
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